Tividale FC

Report

Midland Football League
Premier Division
Saturday 9th April 2022
Walsall Wood 2-0 Tividale

Groundhog Day

Tividale’s woes continued as Walsall Wood mirrored their result 4 days ago with another 2-0 win. Tividale’s poor run now reads 5 defeats and a draw in their last 6 games. The last four games all defeats and only one goal scored in those 4 games.

We have never been a free scoring team but we have always prided ourselves with our goals conceded record. And even in this run there is no let up on the work rate of the lad’s. It’s just that they cannot catch a break.

Manager Dave King’s team selection was again dictated by unavailability. With a very small squad, Dan Smith suspended, Dan Bryson injured, Luke Carter covid and Jason Wood having to work was always going to be a body blow. But Joe Burroughs and 16 year old Owen Waterfield had the chance to get a start.

Tividale’s issues in front of goal was summed up in the first goal action of the game after just 4 minutes. Some great work down the Tividale right by Darragh Bustin and he cut the ball back into the path of Ethan Muckley but from just outside the 6 yard box Muckley failed to get a decent contact on the ball and Wood keeper Callum Smith collected the ball as it rolled to him. Then a whipped in Brad Welding cross from the left just evaded both Muckley and Bustin in the area.

The Wood were now warming to the task and on 20 minutes Maxin Zeuloveot found Stuart Hendrie but he skied his effort. The game was fairly even for most of the half but neither side could create that decisive opening and it was’nt until the 40th minute before The Wood created the next good chance when from a throw Zeuloveot fired a shot that was heading for goal but Tividale captain Matt Hunt got his body in the way and it was deflected for a corner.

Deep into first half stoppage time Zeuloveot was again in the the thick of the action when his shot was scrambled away but the ball ran into the path of Hendrie who hit the post with his effort and Hunt cleared

Half Time Walsall Wood 0-0 Tividale

The second period was only 45 seconds old when the home side took the lead. From a corner Tividale cleared the ball to the edge of their box and Mitchell Tolley took one touch and then smashed the ball past Cconnor and into the back of the net.

The Wood should have doubled their lead on 50 minutes when a Zeuloveot cross was headed wide by Adam McGurk and minute later Jai Verma’s cross found Hendrie but he in turn fired over the bar. On 57 minutes McGurk had another chance to extend the lead as the home side exerted more  pressure on the Tividale back line, but he could not find the target with his shot and it flashed wide of Connor’s post.

While Wood were looking threatening. Tividale were struggling to get a decent opening against a solid looking Wood defence and it wasn’t until the 78th minute when they had their first real chance of the half when Elliott Hartley was put through but his shot took a deflection and flew wide. This a minute after Wood had another chance to extend their lead when Zeuloveot was put though one on one with Connor but blazed over.

It was the 92nd minute of the game when Wood did get the second goal. Connor pulled off a fine stop to deny Wood sub sam Unitt but the ball bounced up in the 6 yard box and Verma was the first to react and nodded the ball home at the back post. Giving Walsall Wood a second 2-0 win over Tividale within 5 days.

Tividale: – 1. Louis Connor, 2. Tom Hurdman 3. Brad Welding, 4. Darragh Bustin 5. Joe Burroughs 6. Matt Hunt, 7. Lewis McPike, 8. Curtis Cocking, 9. Ethan Muckley (14. TJ Munthali 81), 10. Owen Waterfield (12. Lucas Muckley 55), 11. Elliott Hartley

Unused Subs: – 13. Peter Hawk