Midland Football League

Premier Division
Saturday 24th October 2020
AFC Wulfruniuns 1-1 Tividale

One each, point each

Tividale arrived at AFC Wulfruniun’s CKW stadium with both clubs on a decent run of form after indifferent starts. The home side unbeaten in 6 and the visitors unbeaten in 4 and after 96 minutes both records remained intact.

Tividale went into the game without the midweeks hat trick hero Adam Garmson. Garmson was serving the first of his 3-game suspension. So, manager Dave King had to have another change around. 

In came Brad Welding at left wing back, Elliott Hartley pushed into a forward role and young Ryan Grosvenor replaced the rested Lewis McPike in midfield.

Praise had to be handed to both sets of players, because even though the game was played in driving rain and a gale force wind both teams put on a decent show.

Wulf’s where by far the better side in the first period and dominated the early period. Their first chance came after just 5 minutes when Adam Harrison saved a Matthew Johnson header. A spell of sustained pressure by the hosts should have been rewarded when on 11 minutes a Johnson cross was headed over by Adam Meacham. Three minutes later Dominic Dell fired over the bar and then on 17 minutes he hit one straight at Harrison.

Although Tividale seemed to weather the initial storm (pardon the pun) they still could not muster a decent threat on the Wulf’s goal. And on 32 minutes the home side went close again when a Jack Till header was saved by Harrison. Then a minute later a Jack Downing effort cleared the bar.

Tividale’s first attempt on goal came 5 minutes before the break when a Will Rawlins cross field ball found Welding but he shot wide.  

 Half Time: AFC Wulfrunians 0-0 Tividale

Tividale made a change at half time with Lewis McPike replacing the injured Welding. Hartley moved into Welding’s position and McPike joined Dan Smith. With no let up in the weather they started much better in the second period but while they had tightened up at the back, they still could not exert any pressure on the Wulf’s defence. and it was Wulf’s who threatened again after 52 minutes when Dell headed a Till cross wide. 5 minutes later and the home side had their best chance to go ahead. A Tividale headed clearance to the edge of the area found Till, he laid the ball of to Tom Poole and his shot was arrowing into the bottom left-hand corner before Harrison dived down to turn the ball around the post.

On 62 minutes a Grosvenor free kick was met by Luke Carter but his header was punched clear by Wulf’s keeper Tom Hayward. Two minutes later and Tividale were awarded a penalty when Ben Jevons brought down Smith in the area. Carter stepped up and sent Hayward the wrong way with the spot kick to put the visitors ahead.

The goal was the spark that Tividale needed as they were now the team on the ascendancy and looked like they would extend their lead. On 70 minutes, a great passing move involving Carter, McPike and Hartley ended with the latter having a shot well saved by Hayward.

As the game moved into the final 10 minutes Wulf’s stepped up the pressure and on 81 minutes Aaron Bishop was played in one on one with the Harrison but the substitute blazed over from the edge of the box. 

As the game moved into an amazing 6th minute of injury time Wulf’s Meacham and Tividale’s Matt Hunt collided in the Tividale area and although it looked like Hunt really had nowhere to go. Referee Mr Sudbury pointed to the spot.. Downing stepped up and smashed the ball under Harrison and into the net.

Full Time: AFC Wulfrunians 1-1 Tividale