Tamworth Men's Firsts Vs Nottingham Trent Uni

On Saturday it was the visit of Nottingham Trent University who claimed a 6-3 win at Landau Forte Academy.  Tamworth knew a strong start was needed and got that when they took an early lead.  Tom Hancox exchanged a one-two with Tom Sperrink and drove along the baseline before slotting the ball past the keeper from a tight angle.  A scrappy half then ensued with neither team looking particularly fluent.  Trent hit back with an equaliser only for Tamworth to retake the lead with J Haywood winning the ball high up the pitch and playing it into Hancox, who this time turned provider, breaking into the D and squaring the ball to Sperrink for a simple finish.  Again the visitors hit back but Tamworth looked to have retaken the lead only for Ben Acheson’s penalty corner strike to be ruled out on the stroke of half time and Town were left ruing missed opportunity to take control of a disjointed half.

After the break it was Trent who came out stronger and despite a man of the match performance from Acheson at the back and a series of excellent saves from James Miles in goal they cut through the hosts to establish a 5-2 lead.  The game then descended into a nasty affair with Tom Sperrink entering the sin bin for a nasty reaction to being fouled and coach Tom Grimshaw yellow carded for a verbal altercation with a Trent defender who was also given a yellow.  Trent scored again and Tamworth were left with a consolation as Ryan Brisco played the ball into Tom Hancox who struck a powerful shot into the corner for his tenth goal of the season.