Tamworth Men's Firsts Vs Tamworth 2

Tamworth First XI took the bragging rights as they beat the Second XI 7-2 in this interclub league game following the Midlands league restructure.  The Firsts started the game strongly and in the early stages they were probing away with the veteran pair of Nick Pound and Simon Bowyer using all of their experience to hold firm and limit the chances for the Firsts.  Eventually the pressure told when a strike from the left struck Pound on the shin in front of goal and a penalty flick was awarded which Ian Wagstaff dispatched into the top left corner.  Soon after the lead was doubled when Andy Parker took advantage and played a quick free hit on the edge of the D which Tom Sperrink played into Ben Popple and he allowed the ball to run across him before striking reverse stick from a tight angle on the left.  The Firsts then began to overplay and the Seconds gained a foothold in the game, with Tom Shakespeare a constant threat on the break.  The Firsts did extend their lead further when a blocked shot fell to Tom Hancox to drill in from close range before the Seconds pulled one back with Chris Lomas pouncing on a loose pass and firing into the corner to leave the score at 3-1 going into half time.

After the break the game followed a similar pattern, the Firsts having much of the possession and at their best when playing simply but often tempted to dribble too often and the Seconds snuffing out much of the chances in open play before looking to break in numbers.  The Firsts still had the extra quality however and two well worked penalty corner routines were converted, with Tom Merriman deflecting in from close range following an exchange of passes between Hancox and Wagstaff and Hancox bagging his brace when Connor Diggins played the ball across goal.  The Seconds converted a penalty corner of their own to add a consolation goal with Lomas placing his flick into the bottom right corner but when Tom Hancox was brought down by goalkeeper Ethan Oxley the Firsts wrapped up this win with Ian Wagstaff once again converting from the spot.  The final word and last goal would also go to the Firsts when Popple grabbed a fifth goal in two games deflecting home a cross shot from Sperrink in the final minutes.

Next Saturday the Firsts make the long trip to Newtown whilst the Seconds hosts Stone 2s.