Tividale FC

Report

Midland Football League
Premier Cup
Tuesday 6th December 2022
Tividale 1-1 Darlaston Town 1874
(Tividale win on penalties 4-3)

It takes Pens to part them

(Report courtesy of Darlaston Town 1874)

After the tremendous performance on Saturday. It was important that the squad backed it up with another performance at the same standard against A Darlaston team who are flying at the moment.

The home side gave debuts to their two midweek signings. Left back Kamol Campbell signed from Walsall Wood replacing the rested Jack Fisher and forward Matthew Funge on loan to us from Halesowen Town replacing Dan Smith in the forward line.

The other changes were Louis Connor in for Peter Hawk in goal. Jakob Burroughs back from his three game holiday in for the rested club captain Curtis Cocking, David Solademi in for the injured Louis Ezewele.

On a freezing evening at The Beeches, Darlaston made a strong start and had the better of the opening exchanges, Rivel Mardenborough, Dom Dell and Jake Pearson combining on several occasions to cause difficulties for the home defence. Unfortunately, the visitors were thwarted by some excellent defending, Jacob Burroughs and David Solademi excelling with some outstanding tackles. Several Darlaston corners and free kicks came to nothing, and the visitors were unlucky on more than one occasion.

The pressure finally told on 31 minutes, Darlaston taking the lead with a goal of the highest quality. A superbly weighted pass by Ben Priest fell to Dell whose first-time effort over the advancing Louis Conner gave the visitors a fully deserved lead. Mardenborough and Dell both had chances to double the lead before half time, but on both occasions put their efforts wide.

Half Time:- Tividale 0-1 Darlaston Town 1874

If Darlaston had the better of the first half, then it was Tividale who had the edge in the second half.

The impressive Matt Funge started to see more of the ball for Tividale and started to combine well with Taylor Townsend as they came more into the game as the half progressed. Despite the home side having more possession, it was Darlaston who had the best chance in the early second half exchanges when Jake Pearson failed to connect cleanly when well placed.

With substitutes Dan Smith and Jack Downing adding to the Tividale front line Darlaston had to call upon Alex Foreshaw and Ben Podmore to hold firm and repel several Tivi attacks.

The equaliser came on 72 minutes when some excellent approach work by Downing saw him beat two defenders, before setting up Smith to fire home from 20 yards.

Both teams had half chances to win the game within 90 minutes, Darlaston keeper Sidaway saving well on two occasions whilst for the visitors Dell broke clear of the home defence but in a one-on-one situation was unable to beat keeper Conner who saved with his legs.

Full Time:- Tividale 1-1 Darlaston Town 1874

At the end of 90 minutes the game went straight to penalties.

Taylor Townsend (Tividale) – Scores 1-0
Dominic Dell (Darlaston) – Hits Cossbar 1-0
Jason Wood (Tividale) – Saved 1-0
Lewis Gill (Darlaston) – Scores 1-1
Jack Downing (Tividale) – Scores 2-1
Joshua Jones (Darlaston) – Scores 2-2
Matt Funge (Tividale) – Scores 3-2
Charlie Swingwood (Darlaston) – Scores 3-3
Jakob Burroughs (Tividale) – Scores 4-3
Joe Sidaway  (Darlaston) – Saved – 4-3

Penalties Result:- Tividale 4-3 Darlaston Town 1874

Tividale: – 1. Louis Connor, 2. Zac Kourouyianni, 3. Kamol Campbell, 4. Jakob Burroughs, 5. David Solademi 6. Matt Hunt, 17. Taylor Townsend, 8. Jason Wood, 9. Matthew Funge, 10. Malcolm Melvin (14. Jack Downing 65) 11. Ryan Snape (12. Dan Smith 61)

Tividale: – 13. Peter Hawk, 15. Lewis Taylor-Boyce 16. Cameron East