Tamworth Men's Firsts Vs Stratford

Tamworth Men’s First XI secured a vital three points with a 3-2 home win over Stratford.  Tamworth started the game on the front foot and were dominating territory until a counter attack by Stratford resulted in them switching play quickly and creating an overload on Tamworth’s left where the Stratford winger was free to square for a simple opener.  The hosts bounced back well and a fluid team goal saw Tom Hancox drive into the D and setup Ryan Brisco who in turn touched the ball around the keeper for Tom Sperrink to complete a simple finish.  Town continued to create and the training ground work done on penalty corners almost paid dividends as Sperrink had a shot blocked and Ian Wagstaff hit the post with a drag flick.  Tamworth eventually made the breakthrough with the final move of the half when Hancox forced a mistake from his marker and Sperrink latched onto the loose ball before striking low into the bottom left corner having missed a similar chance moments before.

In the second half Stratford stepped up the level of pressure and although Tamworth continued to look for attacking outlets it was the back four who limited Stratford’s chances to penalty corners.  There was some relief when Stratford were reduced to 10 men for a short period, which enabled Tamworth to keep the ball better but the tables were turned soon after when moments after the away side had returned to their full complement of players Tamworth were reduced to 10 as Ian Wagstaff was sin binned for dissent.  The visiting team piled on the pressure and Tony Banks had to be at his sharpest to keep them out with Langford reacting quickest to clear off the pads.  When Stratford did equalise Banks had no chance as a penalty corner strike was deflected at the last moment over his stick.  Tamworth’s reaction was swift and when a penalty corner was awarded with two minutes left on the clock Wagstaff slipped the ball left and Sperrink snatched the win and completed his hatrick with a push through the keeper’s legs.