Tividale FC

Report

Midland Football League
Premier Division
Tuesday 3^rd September 2024
Wolves Casuals 3-1 Tividale

Woeful 45, left too much to do.

Tividale were hoping to bounce back again after the manner of the defeat against OJM on Saturday, but instead produced the worse 45 minutes of the Phil Rann era and found themselves 3-0 down at the interval.

We cannot take it from Casuals in the first half they just wanted it more, and were first in the tackles, first in the challenges and aerial duel’s. They made all the 50/50s theirs and even most of the 60/40’s and 70/30s that were against them.

With Ethan Delaney still unavailable, Eddie Rann and Jamie Hunt long term injuries, they were also without lost Jordan Sangha for this game. Into the squad for the first time this season was Jamie Holder and new dual signing Ian Postle from Halesowen Town. With Holder starting and Postle on the bench.

After a frenetic opening few minutes were neither team could get hold of the ball. Casuals began to take control and had the best of the opening chances with Tyler Bishop firing over on 5 minutes. After 10 minutes a Hayden Seymour cross found Rhyce Brown but he put the ball wide. Two minutes later and casuals had another great chance of opening the scoring when Farid Mikidam was put through but Tividale keeper was out quickly to block his shot.

With 15 minutes on the clock Casuals were awarded a penalty when Hawkes was again left one on one with Mikidam but this time he brought him down. It looked outside the box but after conferring with his assistant a penalty was awarded much to the dismay of the Tividale players. Hawkes was also handed a yellow card. Up stepped Tom Cottam and he gave Casuals a deserved lead. Three minutes later and Tividale had the ball in the Casuals net when Alfie Higgs was first to a ball into the box and forced the ball in, but it was ruled out for offside.

It was hoped that it would spring Tividale into life but instead Casuals carried on doing the running. On 30 minutes Casuals doubled their lead through another penalty and this was even more contentious. After what looked like a brilliant challenge from Callum Lloyd the referee awarded Casuals another penalty. Now this was really hard to swallow as no one appealed, the assistant never gave anything, but the referee was adamant a foul had been committed and Cottam made no mistake from the spot.

On 37 minutes it was 3-0. This time a cross to an unmarked Charlie Swingwood at the back post was met with a neat volley past Hawkes.

Half Time:- Wolves Casuals 3-0 Tividale

After the shocker of a first half, you would have thought that Tividale had to get better but they could have gone even further behind in the 49^th minute when a Mikidam shot was saved by Hawkes.

It was the 52^nd minute when Tividale had their next attack of worth a Piggott shot turned around the post by Garfield and 5 minutes later substitute Postle went on a great run down the left and Garfield could only turn his shot away for a corner. The fact that Tividale were now in the ascendancy and in all out attack mode meant that there was always the chance of being caught on the break and again Hawkes had to foil Mikidam in the 58^th minute.

Tividale pressure caused some hesitation in the Casuals defence on 62 minutes handed Piggott the ball, but he couldn’t cash in and shot wide. Abbas just could not get on the end of a fine Tividale move in the 65^th minute and Garfield gratefully gathered the ball.

With 20 minutes to go Tividale were awarded a penalty of their own when Derrick was brought down in the box and Piggott scored from the spot. But that was as good as it got as the home side just put men behind the ball and shut up shop, while Tividale could not break them down and in the end the last 20 minutes was a stalemate.

A much better second half performance from Tividale but the first half left them with way too much to do and Casuals had all the answers to any questions Tividale asked in the second period and fully deserved their win.

Full Time:- Wolves Casuals 3-1 Tividale

Tividale:- 1. Ethan Hawkes, 2. Tom Rann (16. Michael Agyemang 80) , 3. Sam Bratt-Wyton (15. Papy Brandon Mossini 52), 4. Jamie Holder (12 Mohammed Sahil Sajad 72), 5. Callum Lloyd, 6. Harry Higginson, 7. Aon Mohammed Abbas (14. TJ Davies 72), 8. Alfie Higgs 9. Ryan Piggott, 10. Lewis Derrick, 11. Mario Mendez (17. Luke Postle)

Unused Subs:- None