Tividale FC

Midland Football League
Premier Division
Tuesday 4th March 2025
Whitchurch Alport 4-2 Tividale

Just short on the night

Tividale took the tough trek (in more ways than one) on a dark Tuesday night to Whitchurch Alport. On Saturday, our host’s had just been edged out in the Quarter Final of the FA Vase by an injury time winner. So, we was not sure what to expect. A side deflated from the weekends defeat or one that was going to show the form that got them to the last eight of a national competition. After 25 minutes there was no doubt which side had turned up.

For the third game in a row, Tividale manager Phil Rann was able to pick the same starting line up and the same bench. And although the home side were literally untouchable in those opening minutes it was a deflection that put them ahead after 3 minutes. A free kick on the edge of the Tividale box and Jack Loughran stepped up and his deflected shot gave Ethan Hawkes no chance. Three minutes later and Loughran tried his luck from distance but this time Hawkes was equal to.

Tividale had a chance on 7 minutes when a Jordon Sangha strike was palmed clear by Alport keeper Eric Merner, but that was just a slight break in the Alport wave of attacks and they increased their lead in the 20th minute with Ellis Turner firing home after a great team passing move. It should have been 3-0 three minutes later when a Callum Parker shot was blocked by Hawkes and the ball fell at the feet of Callum Knowles but he blazed over the bar with Hawkes beaten.

Tividale started to get into the game and a Sangha shot was deflected for a corner on the half hour. Seven minutes later and the visitors pulled one back. A Jason Wood free kick was glanced home by Alfie Higgs. The rest of the half was fairly even as Tividale had drawn the sting from Alport and found that they were able to get at them.

Half Time:- Whitchurch Alport 2-1 Tividale

Loughran had the first chance of the second half on 54 minutes when Alport were awarded a free kick from about the same distance as his goal in the first half but this effort cleared the crossbar.

The home side restored their two goal lead in the 58th minute when a ball out to Parker (who looked for all the world offside) who in turn crossed to Bower, who fired past Hawkes. Another Loughran free kick on 67 minutes was met by Alport defender Lewis Brown, but his header was blocked by Hawkes and from the corner Roman Allen headed over.

Tividale cut the deficit to one again in the 74th minute when another Wood free kick was this time met with a thumping Agyemang free header that gave Merner no chance. Hawkes then pulled off the save of the game on 78 minutes to deny Adam Hailes with a header at point blank range from a Loughran corner.

With Tividale pressing for the equaliser they were always short at the back and the home side had a couple of chances to get a 4th when outnumbering the Tividale defence but were unable to find the target until the 96th minute when substitute Sam Flory sent fellow sub Ollie Holden away and he finishes with a lovely solo goal.

A great effort against a very good side that would be there or there about without that brilliant FA Vase run. But if they keep this group of players, they will take some beating next season.

Full Time:- Whitchurch Alport 4-2 Tividale

Tividale:- 1.Ethan Hawkes, 2. Tom Rann (15. Myles Durham 84) , 3. Sam Bratt-Wyton (17. Aon Mohammed Abbas 79), 4. Jason Wood, 5. Callum Lloyd, 6 Matt Holland, 7. Jordon Sangha, 8. Eddie Rann (16. Nathan Guest 63), 9. Ezekiel Agyemang, 10. Alfie Higgs (12. Lewis Derrick 70) 11. Ethan Delaney (14. Ryan Piggott 67)

Unused Subs:– None