The match report below is based on the excellent The Footie Post football blog. Tividale FC would like to thank Ben at The Footie Post for his kind permission in allowing us to use his report. A more detailed post including histories of both teams can be seen here on The excellent Footie Post blog.

Emirates FA Cup
Preliminary Round
Saturday 21st August 2021
Tividale 2-1 AFC Wulfruniuns

A game of two Tivi’s

Tividale came into this game on the back of three different results and three different performances. The win against Shifnal Town in the previous round was an excellent result and performance. They followed it up with a shocking display against Whitchurch Alport in a game that somehow they scrambled a draw out of, purely down to the never say die atitude of the lad’s. Something that this squad of players will always have. Then on Monday night even though we were on the wrong end of a 1-0 result against a very good Romulus side. There was a marked improvement in our performance.

For today’s game with Jordan Edwards injured and Tom Hurdman returning. Elliott Hartley was pushed up as the second striker alongside Dan Smith, in the only changes to the side that started against Romulus. Elliott was put up top due to Tyree Clarke also unavailble and Lewis McPike still out injured.

The opening exchanges were quite even and it was Ryan Grosvenor who had the first decent chance with a free kick that just went wide of Wulf’s keeper Tom Haywards left hand post. A minute later and Wulf’s had the first shot on target when a Craig Gregg shot was comfortably fielded by Adam Harrison.

Harrison had to be quick off his line in the 23rd minute to deny Wulf’s Jack Till and then Grosvenor tried nother long distance effort that again did not trouble Hayward. Back came Wulf’s, this time an Aaron Bishop shot providing catching practice for Harrison

On 32 minutes a James Hill corner caused panic in the Tividale defence. Ben Birch could only clear it as far as Adam Meacham who headed over the bar. But Tividale were back at it in a see saw half when on 36 minutes Grosvenor found Smith and his shot was turned around the post by Hayward for a corner.

It was Wulf’s that went ahead after 38 minutes when Jamie Meddows threaded the ball through to Gregg and he pulled it back for Bishop to beat Harrison from close range. In what was the last piece of decent action in the half.

While the first half performance was a lot better than that 45 minutes against Whitchurch. Everyone at Tividale knew that the performance was nowhere good enough at this level.

Half Time:- Tividale 0-1 AFC Wulfrunians

Once again we have no idea what was said at the break but Tividale were a different side after the break. On 47 minutes a Brad Welding corner was met with a deft touch by Luke Carter but the ball spun agonisingly the wrong side of Haywards far post. It was now all Tividale and on 55 minutes they were level. Hartley closed down Wulf’s defender Matt Johnson disposseses him, out paces the Wulf’s defence, rolls the ball into the path of Welding who gives Hayward no chance from 8 yards.

Tividale were now enjoying the majority of the posession but Wulf’s were still dangerous on the counter and Harrison had to be on his toes to race out and clear any danger.  On 69 minutes the game was turned on its head. Haywards kick is shanked and it goes out for a home throw. The quick throw sends Smith away and when left one on one with Hayward the keeper was beaten by a neat crisp finish.

Hartley could have rounded off his superb performance with a goal on 73 minutes. Tividale sub Cameron Milne gets to the bye line and cuts the ball back but the striker just fails to get close enough to get the ball under control and it runs away for a goal kick.

Tividale then showed excellent game managemen in the final 15 minutes as they ran down the clock until the final whistle.

So for the second season in succesion Tividale go into First Qualifying Round and the draw paired us with Spalding United to be played here at The Beeches on Saturday 4th September

Full Time:- Tividale 2-1 AFC Wulfrunians

Tividale: – 1. Adam Harrison, 2. Tom Hurdman, 3. Brad Welding, 4. Ben Birch, 5. Dan Bryson, 6. Matt Hunt, 7. Curtis Cocking (12. Cameron Milne 70), 8. Ryan Grosvenor, 9. Dan Smith, 10. Luke Carter, 11. Elliott Hartley

Unused Subs: – 13. Peter Hawk, 14. Hayden Reeves

Emirates FA Cup

1st Qualifying Round
Tuesday 22nd September 2020
Tividale 2-4 Nantwich Town

Nantwich end the Tividale run

Tividale entertained level 3 side Nantwich Town and although second best for the majority of the game showed their fighting spirit with 2 late goals.

Manager Dave King went with the same side that did so well in Saturdays defeat at Newark.

Nantwich started well and where 1-0 up inside three minutes. When Callum Saunders was adjudged to have been brought down by Tividale keeper Adam Harrison and were awarded a penalty. It was Saunders who got up to take it himself and fired the spot-kick down the middle.

Harrison then had to make a double save first denying Jamie Lawrie and then Saunders. But could do nothing about Nantwich’s second on 20 minutes. Saunders crossing for Joe Malkin to head in from point blank range.

Saunders will feel that he should have put the visitors 3-0 up when just before the break he found himself through on goal, he rounds Harrison but his shot was cleared off the line.

Tividale had little to show for their first half endeavours and Nantwich keeper Greg Hall was a mere spectator.

Half Time: Tividale 0-2 Nantwich Town

Nantwich again scored an early goal when on 49 minutes a Mike Koral cross was laid back by Saunders for Malkin to get his second and the Dabbers third.

Harrison turned a Malkin shot round the post as he loomed in on his hat trick. But again, he was helpless as The Dabbers got their 4th on 64 minutes when Saunders headed home from a Sean Cooke corner.

Tividale’s first real threat on goal produced a goal when a 67th minute Lewis McPike corner was headed home at the near post by Elliott Hartley.

Then on 80 minutes it was Curtis Cocking who cashed in on another Tividale corner flickingthe ball past Hall, giving the home side a glimpse of an amazing comeback.

With Tividale now pushing men forward Joe Mwasile had a great chance to make it 5 for The Dabbers, when after going through with just Harrison to beat. He blasted over the crossbar.

It could have been even nervier for the visitors if Colum Nugent had put away a great chance in the 89th minute but he failed to hit the target. So in the end, it was Nantwich who go into the next round.

Full Time: Tividale 2-4 Nantwich Town