Tamworth Men's Firsts Vs Old Wulfrunians 1

Tamworth Men’s First XI continued their fine start to the season with a 3-2 win at home to Old Wulfrunians on Saturday.  Old Wulfs came into the game with an unbeaten record and were just a point and place behind second in the league Tamworth so this was already marked as a key fixture for both sides.  Both sides started well and looked to move the ball around with the visitors initially winning the midfield battle.  Town were however a threat throughout with the forward line interchanging position and were ahead midway through the half.  The ball was played into the right hand channel where Tom Sperrink crossed for Tom Hancox who took the ball on the run but saw both his initial shot saved and a second on the rebound, Old Wulfs still failed to clear the ball and it was third time lucky for Hancox who was quickest to the loose ball again and fired low into the corner.  Tamworth couldn’t build on the lead and were guilty of being to slow in possession and giving the ball away cheaply with Old Wulfs pressing well to deny Town the opportunity to play out from the back but the defence stood resolute to maintain the advantage.  Just as Tamworth were starting to find some rhythm they were punished as Old Wulfs turned over possession and broke quickly with the ball played into the right of the D and a cross converted with a powerful shot past James Miles to level at 1-1.

Tamworth knew they must start the second half strongly and although they were much improved on the first half display it was Old Wulfs who took the lead from a penalty corner.  It looked like the momentum had swung to the visitors but Tamworth found a second wind and when they were awarded a penalty corner they levelled the scores.  The ball was switched to Sperrink who, having squandered a handful of efforts from set pieces, struck a wayward shot which deflected off a defenders foot into the path of Connor Diggins who showed quick thinking to sweep the ball into the goal past the defenders on the line with the keeper out of position.  With the game all square both sides were pushing for the win and Tamworth went on to grab the final goal of the game with ten minutes remaining.  Youngster Elliott Birchall had been Town’s star performer all afternoon he wriggled away from his marker on the left wing to work the ball to Tom Hancox, his pass into the D found Sperrink and he deflected the ball into the onrushing Ryan Brisco who was blocked out but as the ball ran loose Sperrink made amends for earlier misses striking the winning goal into the middle of the goal.

Tamworth face Streetly Second XI away next week aiming to extend their two point lead over the chasing pack.