Tamworth Men's Firsts Vs Edgbaston 3

Tamworth Men’s First XI won their vital relegation six pointer 5-1 at home to Edgbaston on Saturday.  Playing into the wind Tamworth were under pressure in the early stages but having kept out the visitors Town came out of their shell and went on the attack.  The pressure told and the opening goal came from a penalty corner as the ball was slipped to Simon Cooper and he struck reverse stick from the left across the goal into the far corner.  Town pushed to extend their lead but were unable to find a second breakthrough and took their slender lead into the break.

After the break Tamworth maintained their intensity but it looked like they would rue missed chances and bad luck with Tom Hancox twice striking the foot of the post.  Finally the second goal came with a well worked team goal, with the ball moved down the left wing and into Hancox at the top of the D who laid the ball off to Tom Sperrink to gather and strike into the bottom right corner.  This seemed to deflate the visitors and Tamworth ramped up the pressure.  The third goal put the game out of reach with Ian Wagstaff flicking high and to the keeper’s right from a penalty corner.  Ryan Brisco got Tamworth’s fourth when he collected a pass from the left and snuck his shot under the keeper.  Town completed their scoring with Cooper grabbing his second with another well struck shot into the corner.  Edgbaston then grabbed a consolation in the closing stages, which was harsh on keeper James Miles who deserved a clean sheet for his performance in this game and across the season.  Other notable performances came from Elliott Birchall and Ben Thacker who both shone in midfield.

Tamworth are now a point behind third bottom Edgbaston but face tough fixtures away to third placed Ludlow and home to second placed Bromsgrove in the next couple of weeks.