Tividale FC

Report

Midland Football League
Premier Division
Saturday 6th January 2024
Tividale 0-2 Darlaston Town

Groundhog Day, As we start 24 as we ended 23

Tividale began 2024, the same way that they ended 2023. A defeat against a very good side, but again a game that we had more than enough chances to get something out of.

Boss Stuart How made two changes from the side that lost to Lichfield City on Boxing Day. Dominic Dell and Ewan Edwards coming into the starting line up with Cody Mullan suspended and Ryan Snape on the bench.

Some great news for the home side was the return of Arman Khoshkhoo for his first match of the season after being out through an injury he picked up in pre-season.

Darlaston started the game well, after 5 minutes a Tom Cottam corner was headed over by Alex Foresham and a minute later a Lewis Gill corner was hit towards the penalty spot to Aaron Bishop, who tried a spectacular overhead kick that flashed over the bar.

The visitors did take the lead in the 12th minute when a Jack Downing’s cross field pass found Bishop who in turn laid the ball off to James Rowland and he cut inside and unleashed a superb curling shot into Louis Connor’s top left-hand corner, giving the keeper no chance.

Tividale then missed a glorious chance to equalise on 18 minutes, when Taylor Townsend set up Dell, but the striker shot inches wide from the edge of the box, with Darlaston keeper Tom Allsopp racing from his line to put the striker under pressure to shoot early.

Clear chances for either side were few and far between, but by far the best chance falling to Darlaston’s Bishop in the 24th minute when he poked the ball wide from just three yards out.

The visitors had the better possession and half chances in the first 45 minutes, but without putting too much pressure on the home goal and went into the half time break with a single goal lead.

Half Time:-Tividale 0-1 Darlaston Town

It was Tividale who made the better start to the second half. Darlaston keeper Allsopp keeping out a Townsend 16-yard drive with an outstretched leg. But despite the pressing, Tividale could not create another chance of note,

On 62 minutes in a carbon copy of Dell’s first half miss, Bishop missed a glorious chance to double the visitors lead, when shooting wide with only Connor to beat.

In the final 20 minutes Darlaston substitutes Rivel Mardenborough and Kieron Miller both found space down the flanks, both crossing into the box or driving across the face of goal without finding a team mate to convert.

Darlaston defended stoutly and in numbers to thwart Tividale, who were pressing hard for an equaliser. But deep into added on time, a Tividale short corner was cleared some 40 yards by Bishop, and substitute debutant Dan Noke played in Miller, and he cut inside the penalty area, before curling the ball beyond Connor in the Tividale goal.

Full Time:-Tividale 0-2 Darlaston Town

Tividale:- 1. Louis Connor, 2. Zac Kourouyianni, 3.Callum Gillies, 4. Jakob Burroughs, 5. Joe Hawkins, 6. Joe Burroughs, 7. Taylor Townsend, 8. Jack Till, 9. Dominic Dell (11. Arman Khoshkhoo 65), 14. Lewis Wright (10. James Douglas 60) , 17. Ewan Edwards (15. Ryan Snape 60)

Unused Subs:- 12. Cameron East, 16. Max Morris