Tamworth Men's Firsts Vs Redditch

Tamworth Men’s First XI enjoyed a great start to 2013, beating Redditch 4-1 away from home to record their biggest win of the season.

Tamworth knew that they must win against the side propping up the table and were immediately encouraged as Redditch were forced to start the game with a kicking back until their goalkeeper arrived.  Tamworth weren’t able to force a clear cut chance during this period but started strongly and took a deserved lead when Ian Wagstaff’s superbly executed drag flick flew into the top right hand corner from the first penalty corner of the game.  Tamworth continued to press and Tom Sperrink was denied by a double save from the keeper before having a shot turned wide on the line.  Moments later the visitors doubled the lead, James Goode played the ball down the right wing and following a one-two, Tom Beasley gifted Sperrink a simple finish into the open goal.  Redditch came back with their strongest phase of the game but struggled to create from open play as Langford and Acheson restricted them to a handful of penalty corners, with Langford on hand to pick out a goal bound effort brilliantly from above his head.

In the second half Tamworth found themselves dropping deeper, despite Redditch losing a player to the sin bin for dissent, and the hosts gained a foothold in the game.  Having struck the post they were awarded a penalty flick soon after when Langford felled the Redditch forward and although Mike Pipe got a touch he couldn’t keep it out.  Tamworth restored their two goal lead almost immediately this time when Wagstaff’s strike from a penalty corner fell kindly for Sperrink to score on the rebound, and he should have completed his hatrick soon after but saw a close range shot saved.  Pipe maintained the advantage with a strong stick save low down but it was Tamworth who completed the days scoring when Tom Hancox weaved his way into the D from the right wing and squeezed the ball in from a narrow angle for a wonderful solo effort.

The win lifts Tamworth to 9 points and now only resting in the bottom two due to inferior goal difference.  They will need to carry the all-round team performance from Saturday into next week’s home match when they meet Aldridge & Walsall.