Tividale FC

Report

Midland Football League
Saturday 1^st October 2022
Tividale 2-1 Market Drayton Town

Tividale find it tough at the market

 After Tuesday’s first half capitulation nothing less than a victory would seem to matter in this clash against bottom side Market Drayton Town. And the outpour of relief in the dressing room after the final whistle was not a slur on our game opponents but just showing how much we needed this result, and it could have all ended so differently.

Manager Dave King was able to bring back the returning Matt Hunt into the heart of the defence. Also, into the first eleven where Jack Downing, Jack Fletcher, and Zac Kourouyianni. In place of Joe Burroughs, Ryan Grant, Jamie Hunt, and Alex Cameron.

Tividale got off to the worst possible start when after dominating possession and playing almost entirely in the Drayton half. After 9 minutes a Drayton break away and after Peter Hawk was forced to parry a shot Drayton’s Durell Manhertz was first to react and put the visitors 1-0 up. Brad Welding had an effort from a free kick go wide on 15 minutes and a minute later Taylor Townsend had a shot comfortably saved by Drayton keeper George Scott.

After 18 minutes Tividale centre back Louis Ezewele was forced off with what looked like a hamstring injury and replaced by Joe Burroughs.

As Tividale stepped up the pressure Hunt headed over a Townsend corner on 25 minutes. Drayton could have doubled their lead on 31 minutes. When a defensive mix up allowed Daniel Churm in on goal, but his shot was blocked by Hunt. Dan Smith looking for his 100^th Tividale goal made an opening for himself to get off a shot in the 38^th minute but Scott had no problems with it.

Drayton had the last decent chance of the half when Callum Griffith strolled forward and tried his luck from about 25 yards that sailed high and wide.

Half Time Tividale 0-1 Market Drayton Town

Drayton had the first chance of the second half on 49 minutes when again Tividale gave the ball away. Callum Knowles was the benefactor this time, but he drilled his shot wide of Hawk’s post.

Two minutes later and the home side where on level terms. A free kick into the Drayton penalty area is not cleared and the ball breaks for Smith to sweep home for his 100^th goal for the club. On 54 minutes Churm tried a volley from just inside the box that Hawk got behind to save. Jakob Burroughs tried one at the other end that flew wide.

With the game going into the last 30 minutes Townsend had a shot brilliantly blocked by a Drayton defender. The rebound came out to Smith, but he could not beat Scott. Manherz then set up Isaac Shaw after a great run, but Shaw could not find the target. On 68 minutes Jakob Burroughs then found Downing with a great ball and his low cross into the 6-yard box was turned away for a corner. From the resulting corner Hunt nodded the ball back from the back post but Downing’s shot went straight at Scott.

On 75 minutes Tividale took the lead. From a Welding free kick, whipped into the area. It beat everyone and nestled inside Scott’s far post. Another Welding free kick on 80 minutes was again met by Hunt and this time his knockdown found Smith, but his volley was blocked on the line. Tividale were now in charge and on 84 minutes had a great chance to increase their lead when after a great passing move between Townsend, Ryan Snape and Lewis Taylor-Boyce ended with the latter just unable to get his shot off.

Full Time Tividale 2-1 Market Drayton Town

Tividale: – 1. Peter Hawk, 2. Zac Kourouyianni, 3. Brad Welding, 4. Jakob Burroughs, 5. Louis Ezewele (15. Joe Burroughs 18), 6. Matt Hunt, 7. Taylor Townsend, 8. Curtis Cocking (16. Malcolm Melvin 85), 9. Dan Smith (18. Lewis Taylor- Boyce 84), 10. Jack Downing (19. Jamie Hunt 73), 12. Jack Fletcher (14. Ryan Snape 67)

Unused Sub: 13. None