Tividale FC

Midland Football League

Premier Division
Saturday 18th December 2021
Tividale 1-0 Stone Old Alleynians

Cocking sinks the Stone

Since our 4-1 drubbing at the hands of today’s opponents 5 weeks ago at their ground we were unbeaten in our last four games in all competitions and so there was no doubt that if we wanted to extend this run, we would have to be at our absolute best today.

As is the norm this season Boss Dave King had to make changes to the side that battled their way to the 2-1 win a week ago. Good news was that centre back Dan Bryson was back and so coach TJ Munthali could have a week off after last week’s heroics. Bad news was that our goal scorer from the reverse fixture Elliott Hartley was in covid isolation and so was unavailable. So, it was a start for last week’s match winner Ethan Muckley. As we only had three available sub’s last week and even less this week. Youth team players Sam Butler and Lewis Bradley was drafted into the squad.

The only thing that the first 15 minutes was noted for was that there was not a chance in sight as both keepers where mere spectators as the ball was residing exclusively in the middle of the pitch. The first chance went to Stone after 15 minutes when Sam Wilson met a Jack Bowater free kick, but his header went straight into the midriff of Tividale keeper Peter Hawk. Plus, the offside flag had gone up.

Even though chances were at a premium it was the visitors who had the majority of the possession in midfield, but Tividale’s engine room were never going to let them settle. The home side could have gone ahead on their first real foray into the Stone penalty area on 31 minutes. Ethan Muckley’s neat flick ran nicely for striker Eshan Greer, but he was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Stone’s Ryan Goodwin. Five minutes later and Stone should have taken the lead. Sam Bowater ran onto a ball over the top of the Tividale defence, he rounded Hawk and passed the ball towards what was an open goal, only to see Tividale’s Tom Hurdman race across, dive and chest the ball off the line and out for a corner.

Stone were now looking the more likely to break the deadlock as Tividale defended as if their lives depended on it. With seven minutes left of the half Wilson unleashed a shot that Hawk did well to get to but could only parry the ball out to Sam Bowater, he in turn found Jack Tomlinson but he skied his shot. Then on the stroke of half time Tomlinson headed a Jack Bowater cross over the Tividale bar from six yards out.

Half time: Tividale 0-0 Stone Old Alleynians

With the floodlights on from the start of the game and the pitch being realy heavy. The decent of a fog like mist that seemed to swirl around throughout the second half sure did not help matters but there was no threat to the match running it’s full course.

Stone might have shaded the first half but there was no doubt that Tividale dominated the second period and should have been ahead on 52 minutes with a great goal. Bustin’s pace took him past two defenders, and he laid the ball off to Greer, who in turn rolled the ball into the oncoming Jason Wood and his shot was deflected out for a corner. Bustin was now causing havoc down the left flank and another of his runs in the 66th minute ended with him just dragging his shot wide of Andrew Walklate’ s far post. Four minutes later and Bustin again fired wide, this time getting on the end of a Muckley knock down.

As the game moved into the final 10 minutes the game seemed to have 0-0 all over it, especially after Muckley was put through but another brilliant tackle, this time by Stone defender Joe Baxter thwarted him just as he was going to get his shot off. As the game moved into its final three minutes, substitute Lewis McPike raced into the Stone penalty box and got his shot away. Walklate pulled off a great save but could only direct the ball into the path of Curtis Cocking who gave the keeper no chance with his finish. Cocking’s second goal in two games had earned Tividale the three valuable points.

Full time: Tividale 1-0 Stone Old Alleynians

Tividale: – 1. Peter Hawk, 2. Tom Hurdman, 3. Brad Welding, 4. Luke Carter, 5. Dan Bryson 6. Matt Hunt, 7. Jason Wood, 8. Curtis Cocking, 9. Eshan Greer (12. Lewis McPike 78), 10. Ethan Muckley (14. Jake Bram 92), 11. Darragh Bustin

Unused Subs: – 15. Sam Butler, 16. Lewis Bradley,