Tividale FC

Report

Midland Football League
Premier Division
Saturday 15th April 2023
AFC Wulfrunians 1- 2 Tividale

Five on the bounce

Five league wins in a row is not easy at any level. But when they come from a side with relegation hovering over them at the start of the run and in the space of just 15 days. It is proof of the togetherness of the management, coaching and playing staff.

It is always an enjoyable trip to our friends at the Castlecroft and a win makes it an even better day. With so many players in the Wulf’s side that Tividale are familiar with, including Curtis Cocking and Brad Welding who have both made over 100 appearances for Tividale in their ranks this was always going to be a strategy battle and in the first half we struggled but in the second half we dominated.

With defenders Joe Burroughs, Louis Ezewele and David Solademi returning after missing the Market Drayton win. Tividale reverted back to a 5-3-2 formation.

The first half was fairly poor from both sides as Tividale failed to put any real pressure on the home side and Wulf’s failed to take advantage of it and put the game out of sight.

It did not help with some awful officiating that due to the inconsistencies and poor decisions. It meant frustrated players on both sides and the game never flowed.

Tividale were already under the cosh when an Ethan Jarrett cross was somehow turned into his own net by Louis Connor in the 9^th minute. Connor lost his bearings when trying to palm the cross over away and did not get the ball over his bar.

Welding had a sight of goal on 16 minutes, but his shot sailed wide, and Jake Webb saw his shot on 31 minutes parried by Connor and although Webb was first to the rebound Solademi blocked his follow up.

Tividale’s only chance of the half was also the best move of the half. Jason Wood fired a pass into Dan Smith whose neat touch put in Arman Khoshkhoo, but he failed to hit the target with his shot..

Half Time: AFC Wulfrunians 1-0 Tividale

You felt that the second half had to improve and for Tividale it did. Tividale switched to a 4-3-3 formation at the beginning of the half with Reinaldo Forbes coming on in a wide right position replacing centre back Solademi and the switch brought dividends within the first 10 minutes.

In the 55^th minute Tividale with more width to their attacking play got in behind the Wulf’s defence and worked the ball out to Wood on the edge of the box who fired home past the despairing dive of Wulf’s keeper Jake James.

On 72 minutes a Jordan Davies shot after he was put in by Jarrett was brilliantly turned over by Connor, but to the surprise of everyone in the ground a goal kick was given.

Tividale should have taken the lead on 79 minutes when somehow Wulf’s kept out efforts from Smith and Khoshkhoo in what was a mad scramble in their area.

Wulf’s had a chance to get back in the lead on 81 minutes when a Jacob Gwilt cross was turned over the visitor’s bar by Tom Poole. But it was Tividale who hit the winner on 90 minutes.

A Smith break down the Tividale right attracted 3 Wulf’s defenders leaving Khoshkhoo unmarked racing down the left. All Smith had to do was find him with a pass in which he obliged and Khoshkhoo with just James to beat made no mistake.

Full Time: AFC Wulfrunians 1- 2 Tividale

Tividale: – 1. Louis Connor, 2. Zac Kourouyianni, 3. Kamol Campbell, 4. Joe Burroughs, 5. Louis Ezewele, 6. David Solademi (14. Reinaldo Forbes 46)  , 7. Harry Lewis, 8. Jason Wood, 9. Dan Smith (12. Nashawn Blake 92), 10. Arman Khoshkhoo, 11. Jack Fletcher.

Unused Subs:- 15. Ashley Oliver, 16. Callum Powell