Tividale FC

Report

Midland Football League
Premier Division
Saturday 29th January 2022
Hanley Town 0-0 Tividale

Tividale will not Han’ over the points

After the midweek win at bottom of the table Bewdley Town, despite being reduced to 9 men. We now had what was on paper our most difficult trip of the season. A visit to The Payaro Stadium against run away leader’s Hanley Town. A squad with a who’s who of ex professional, who must have clocked up around 2000 league appearances between them including forward’s Chris Dagnall (Barnsley, Hibernian, Rochdale, Tranmere and Crewe amongst others and over 100 goals), Louis Dodds (Port Vale, Shrewsbury, Chesterfield and about 60 goals), defender Ryan Shotton (Birmingham City, Middlesbrough and Derby County) and player/manager Carl Dickinson (Watford, Stoke City and Port Vale). So, there was no doubting the task we faced.

Manager Dave King only made the one change. With Luke Carter returning into the middle of the park after being rested for the Bewdley game replacing the unavailable Jason Wood.

The game itself started evenly and it was Tividale who had the first goal threats. The first after 6 minutes when Curtis Cocking found Darragh Bustin but he never got hold of his shot and home keeper Kieran Harrison fielded the ball comfortably. A couple of minutes later and Ethan Muckley had a chance after some fine work from Cocking and Bustin but he never got the ball under complete control and the ball ran through to Harrison.

Hanley’s first sight of goal came in the 13th minute when centre back Kyle Stubbs fired over. Hanley where now warming to the task and in the 25th minute Ryan Campbell Gordon’s effort hit the post and went wide, this after a great run down the right. On 39 minutes Hanley’s Jake Avery tries to chase down a through ball but he also cannot get it under control and Tividale keeper Peter Hawk is quickly out to claim the ball. A minute later and the Cocking, Bustin, Muckley combination create another opening, but again Muckley cannot get his shot on target.

Half Time: – Hanley Town 0-0 Tividale

Hanley made a change at half time taking off Campbell-Gordon and sending on Aaron Cole in what we think is an injury. The home side produced the first chance of the half on 49 minutes but Avery’s shot was comfortably dealt with by Hawk. Hawk then got down to take a Stubbs free kick from distance in the 52nd minute.

On the hour mark, Dagnall got a shot in that again Hawk was equal to. Then a Brad Welding free kick on 62 minutes that again never caused Harrison any issues. Avery had another great chance on 65 minutes after a Dodds clip to the back post, but again it was straight at Hawk.

Hanley were now exerting all the pressure and Tividale’s defence was now getting stretched. 68 minutes and another Dagnall shot but this time Hawk could only parry it and Welding completed the clearance. Then a deep cross from Charlie Walford caused Tividale concern before again Welding hooked clear.

Tividale did try and relieve some of the pressure off their defence by keeping substitute Dan Smith high up the field so that Hanley’s centre backs could not push on and with 20 minutes to go he broke free of his markers, when he was found after some fine work by Elliott Hartley. but again, he could not work Harrison as he curled his effort wide.

Possibly the chance of the game came in the 80th minute. Avery is through one on one with Hawk, he tries to place the ball past the keeper but Hawk was equal to it and blocked his shot and Matt Hunt completed the clearance. Welding was again on hand in the 88th minute to clear another Hanley effort off the line as the visitors were now standing up to some real pressure. In the end their hard work earned them a point.

There was no doubt who the happier side were at the final whistle as Hanley just could not get that break thorough especially in the second period where they were the dominant side. But Tividale can look back and feel that they deserved the point that they earned. They had chances in a fairly equal first period and they defended superbly throughout most of the second.

Full Time: – Hanley Town 0-0 Tividale

Tividale: – 1. Peter Hawk, 2. Tom Hurdman, 3. Brad Welding, 4. Luke Carter, 5. Dan Bryson 6. Matt Hunt, 7. Darragh Bustin, 8. Curtis Cocking, 9. Ethan Muckley (14. Lewis McPike 90), 10. Cameron Milne (17. Dan Smith 56), 11. Elliott Hartley

Unused Subs: – 12. Hayden Reeves, 15. Harvey Portman, 16. Joe Burroughs