Tamworth Men's Firsts Vs Finchfield 2

Tamworth Men's First XI made a winning return after the mid season break winning 5-3 at third placed Finchfield Second XI.  Tamworth had a strong squad available with Ian Wagstaff boosting the ranks following his rapid return to the side following knee surgery over Christmas.  This showed in the early stages as Town pressed high and won the ball in dangerous areas. The forwards were guilty of spurned a number of chances but eventually took the lead when Wagstaff hit a long pass to Tom Sperrink who in turn found Tom Hancox, who squared up the final defender before drilling into the bottom left corner.  Tamworth then came under a period of sustained pressure from Finchfield but were able to extend their lead on the break against the run of play.  A well worked move saw Tom Merriman shift the ball from left to right across the D before the ball was cut back for Hancox whose shot was half saving leaving Tom Sperrink to knock the ball over the line into the empty goal.  This goal shifted momentum back to Tamworth and they finished the half strongly, adding a third goal when Ian Wagstaff fired a drag flick low to the keeper's right from a penalty corner late in the half.

After the interval the two sides exchanged goals with Finchfield scoring first before Ben Popple restored the three goal lead when he scored reverse stick from close range.  The second half became scrappy as both teams looked short of match sharpness although Popple showed a touch of class when he drove down the centre of the pitch leaving defenders in his wake before placing his shot beyond the keeper into the corner for his second.  Finchfield pulled two goals back in the latter stages of the game including a bizarre goal when a shot looped up off James Griffin and somehow eluded everyone to drop over the line but Town were resolute at the back to ensure that these only served as consolation goals.

Having now passed the halfway point of the season Tamworth remain second having extended their lead over the chasing pack to eight points but remain five behind leaders Wolverhampton.  Town travel to Wednesbury next week looking to maintain their unbeaten run of 7 games and just two points dropped during that time.