Tamworth Men's Firsts Vs Finchfield 2

Tamworth Men’s First XI round off the season with a comfortable 5-2 win at home to mid table Finchfield Seconds to conclude a successful season for Town.  As with most of the season Tamworth were able to put out a strong squad and controlled the game from the first whistle.  The midfield was anchored by Andy Parker which enabled Tamworth to press high up the pitch with captain Ryan Brisco repeatedly intercepting through a strong pressing game.  The hosts took the lead when Tom Hancox broke into the D on the right hand side and his low cross deflected into the path of Brisco who slotted home at the second attempt.  The lead was doubled soon after with Tom Sperrink weaving into the D from the left and when his shot from a narrow angle was saved the rebound popped up kindly for a tap in.  Finchfield were looking to create through their tricky midfield playmaker but Parker, Brisco and Elliott Birchall shackled him well and the hosts added a third when Brisco stopped a pass out from the back and drove into the D, drawing the keeper, before unselfishly squaring the ball for Sperrink to tap into the empty goal.

The second half saw a more even contest as both sides enjoyed spells of the possession but Tamworth again looked more clinical in the final third although they had to weather a couple of spells with only ten men due to sin bins.  Once back to full strength Tamworth added to their tally with Brisco again involved in Town’s fourth as he struck a goal bound reverse stick shot from the left which was deflected in on the line by Hancox for his 24th goal of the season.  Hancox then a whistled a reverse stick shot of his own from the top of the D past the post and Brisco struck a powerful shot against the foot of the post as Tamworth chased further goals.  A fifth came when Hancox’s shot from a penalty corner was saved and Sperrink was on hand to push in the loose ball for his hat trick and 26th of the season as he took the hotly contest top scorer bragging rights.  Finchfield pulled goal back with James Miles in goal sent to the sin bin and the visitors dispatching the resulting penalty flick beyond Ben Acton who had to don the pads and as Town played the final moments with ten outfield players they were undone again from close range but it did little to take the gloss off a thoroughly enjoyable final game.

Tamworth will look forward to a season testing themselves against tougher opposition in the next tier up later in the year but completed their job of getting promotion as they finished the season with 49 points and 16 wins from 22 games, joint top scoring with champions Wolverhampton on 98 and conceding 57.  Thanks from the squad to Brisco who managed the squad excellently in his first season in charge and a real squad effort with 13 players playing at least 15 games.  Special mentions to Acton who was the only ever present in league and cup and youngster Elliott Birchall who was key member of the team despite his age.