Tividale FC

Report

Midland Football League

Premier Division
Tuesday 14th September 2021
Boldmere St Michaels 3-1 Tividale

The Saints March On

After Saturday’s no show, Tividale had the chance to immediately forget about the performance and the result with an away fixture at table topping Boldmere St Michaels.

First of all we have to mention the new changing room and hospitality facilities at The Boldmere St Michaels Football & Athletic Club. We had heard a bit about it but as due to Covid we have not played there for 2 seasons. So we never really had chance to see it. Well all we can say is. It was worth the wait.

Anyway back to the football. With Manager Dave King taking a well earned break. Assistant manager Kieran Bustin was in charge for the night and he made four changes. Tom Hurdman had recoveered from the injury that kept him out of Saturday’s game. Curtis Cocking, Hayden Reeves and Lewis McPike all returned to the starting line up. All in place of the injured Brogan Halpin and Jordan Edwards and the rested Ben Birch and Cameron Milne.

The first half started at a frenetic pace with both sides on the attack. Boldmere were at Tividale’s goal in the 2nd minute but the visitors just managed to clear their lines. Then on 10 minutes a spate of Tividale pressure ended with Elliott Hartley firing wide. On 20 minutes there was a break in play after Boldmere full back Ben George was on the end of a crunching tackle. (He eventually had to go off 15 minutes later). Tividale skipper Matt Hunt then just got in the way of a Alex McSkeane effort to divert it wide as the full throttle action continued.

There was no relenting to the speed and high tempo of the game and Darragh Bustin will feel he should have done better in the 32nd minute when he put his free kick way over Dan Crane’s bar. Boldmere came the closest to opening the scoring on 38 minutes when a Danny O’Sullivan cross fell to McSkeane but his snap shot was straight at Harrison.

Tividale took the lead in the 41st minute when a Bustin long throw caused all sorts of chaos in the home defence and after a scramble Dan Smith rifled the ball into the back of the net. In the 43rd minute Boldmere’s O’Sullivan with great work again down the right but he could not match it with his cross come shot and it flew past Harrison’s far post. Tividale could have doubled their lead on the stroke of half time but Hayden Reeves headed a Hartley corner wide.

Half Time : Boldmere St Michaels 0-1 Tividale

Within nine minutes of the second half,  the game had been turned on it’s head. In the 53rd minute, the flying O’Sullivan got to the bye line and his cross was met by an unmarked McSkeane and his downward header beat Harrison to put Boldmere level. A minute later and the home side were in front. For the second game running an unforced Tividale defensive error, this time a short back pass left the alert McSkeane one on one with Harrison and he rolled the ball past the onrushing keeper.

Tividale now had to chase the game and Huint just failed to get on the end of a Bustin free kick. While the visitors were pressing for the equaliser there was always the chance that they would get punished on the counter and on 67 minutes Harrison pulled of a fine save to deny Kyle Byrne. Then a minute later O’Connor broke away again but his shot was comfortably saved by Harrison. A minute later and Smith was sent to the Sin Bin a culmination of frustration of the little if any protection he was getting from the officials and the epic battle between him and Boldmere’s centre back Pedro Lima.

The game went into a bit of a lull at that point with Boldmere seemingly happy with the 2-1 lead while the visitors with a man short could not raise the momentum to trouble the Boldmere back line. As the game went into the last 5 minutes there came a moment of brilliance.  Boldmere won a free kick, outside the box and to the right of Harrison’s goal.

Up stepped O’Sullivan and his screamer of a shot beat Harrison all ends up and into the top left hand corner. An effort I doubt 2 keepers would have saved.

Click here for that Danny O’sullivan free kick

 

Full Time : Boldmere St Michaels 3-1 Tividale

Tividale: – 1. Adam Harrison, 2. Tom Hurdman, 3. Elliott Hartley, 4. Hayden Reeves, 5. Dan Bryson, 6. Matt Hunt, 7. Curtis Cocking (12.  Cameron Milne 84), 8. Luke Carter, 9. Dan Smith, 10. Darragh Bustin (14. Corey Howe 58), 11. Lewis McPike (15. Tyree Clarke 65)

Unused Subs: – 14. Ben Birch, 16. Corey Howe