Midland Football League
Premier Division
Saturday 31st August 2024
OJM Black Country 3-2 Tividale

Tividale let 2 goal lead slip.

After the excellent 1-1 draw with Highgate United, it was a trip into Kings Norton to face OJM Black Country, the first time Tividale had faced them under their new name. Although we had faced Black Country Rangers many times.

Ranny was forced into the one change with Ethan Delaney unavailable, Aon Mohammed Abbas took his place in the wide right position.

Tividale started well and Jordan Sangha had the first shot on target after 6 minutes but OJM keeper Tom Clapp saved well. OJM struck the woodwork in the 14^th minute through a through Callum Lee free kick and striker Jarrel Hylton actually rounded Tividale keeper Ethan Hawkes in the 15^th minute but as Hylton lined up to shoot Hawkes was able to get back and block him. OJM continued to press and Emeraude Kabongo should have done better with his shot a couple of minutes later but hit it wide.

Against the run of play Tividale took the lead  in the 25^th minute. Hawkes fired the ball out to Mario Mendez who in turn found Ryan Piggott. With two defenders trying to muscle him off the ball Piggott’s determination held them off and then had the composure to stab the ball past the oncoming Clapp and into the back of the net.

OJM came thundering back and on 27 minutes another Lee free kick was this time pushed around the post by Hawkes. Tividale’s Lewis Derrick then saw his shot just go wide of the Clapp’s upright on 33 minutes and as half time approached defender Harry Higginson headed OJM’s Michael Nelson shot for a corner and from it OJM’s Callum Nimmo headed against the bar.

Half Time:- OJM Black Country 0-1 Tividale

Tividale started the half the better and Clapp pulled off two great saves in the first 5 minutes of the re start. First, he parried an Alfie Higgs shot for a corner and then a Sangha cross was met by Mendez but he was denied by a flying Clapp save.

Tividale continued to press and Aon Mohammed Abbas fired wide in the 52^nd minute. OJM’s Lee also shot wide 4 minutes later and then he sent a great ball through to Nehemiah Zazi but again he also failed to hit the target.

As the game approached the hour mark Tividale doubled their lead. A great ball from Derrick found Mendez and his shot was pushed away by Clapp, but there was Higgs to slam home the rebound.

Tividale as expected were now going to be under the cosh and needed a few minutes to nullify the OJM threat as they threw everything at the visitors but on 63 minutes, they pulled one back when Tividale failed to clear a ball into their area and a Michael Nelson scissor kick found the back of the net. It was now all hands to the pump as OJM attacked the Tividale defence and on 77 minutes they equalised this time with a large slice of luck when Hylton took a chance from long range it hit a bobble just in front of Hawkes and left him stranded and could only watch as the ball went past him.

In the 84^th minute the inevitable happened as again Tividale had chances to clear a ball into the box and failed and there was Demetri Brown to fire the ball home and win the game for OJM.

Full Time:- OJM Black Country 3-2 Tividale

Tividale:- 1. Ethan Hawkes, 2. Tom Rann, 3. Sam Bratt-Wyton (16. Papy Brandon Mossini 83), 4. Alfie Higgs (15. TJ Davies 72), 5. Callum Lloyd, 6. Harry Higginson, 7. Jordan Sangha , 8. Aon Mohammed Abbas (14. Michael Agyemang 71) , 9. Ryan Piggott, 10. Lewis Derrick (12. Mohammed Sahil Sajad), 11. Mario Mendez

Unused Subs:- 17. Nashawn Blake

Midland Football League
Premier Division
Monday 26th August 2024
Tividale 1-1 Highgate United

Bouncebackability

After losing 6-0 only 48 hours before. Deciding to have a whole squad initiation straight after the defeat. You would not have been blamed if you had feared the worse for this Bank Holiday fixture. But the togetherness of this management team and squad is nothing short of remarkable.

With this being the second game in 48 hours and also taking the beating on Saturday into consideration, Boss Phil Rann made 4 changes from Saturday’s starting line up. In came Callum Lloyd, Lewis Derrick, Ryan Piggott and Mario Mendez in place of Brandon Mossini, Mohammed Sahil Sajad, Michael Agyemang and Aon Mohammed Abbas.

If there was a hangover from Saturday (either the result or the initiation’s) it wasn’t showing as Tividale started with all gun’s blazing and should have gone one up in the first minute. Alfie Higgs found Ethan Delaney who in turn played a one -two with Higgs who had continued his run into the box, but the Higgs shot was blocked by a defender and Highgate keeper Kobi Brookes was able to gather the loose ball. From the keeper’s kick down field Higgs again picked up the ball and again found Delaney but this time he tried his luck and the shot went over. In the 12th minute a Sam Bratt-Wyton free kick was met by Piggott but Brookes had no trouble collecting his header.

After all Tividale’s pressure, in Highgate’s first attack they went ahead. A 16th minute George Elwell ball into the box found Kyle Hayden who held off his marker Lloyd and he hooked his shot past Tividale keeper Ethan Hawkes at his near post and into the net. Three minutes later and Highgate had a great chance to make it 2-0. From a Tividale corner Highgate cleared and broke the ball came found its way to Elwell at the edge of the Tividale box but Hawkes saved his shot with his legs.

Not a lot happened as both sides tried to impose themselves on the opposition, until the 39th minute when Highgate forward Taylor Needs went down under a Higginson challenge in the area, but referee Simon King waived away the Highgate penalty appeals. A minute later and a Delaney cross to the back post finds Mendez but his shot is fielded by Brookes. Derrick then tries his luck from distance but his shot is blocked.

on the stroke of half time Highgate win a free kick on the edge of the Tividale box. Bracher’s shot is blocked by the Tividale wall, Ty Sanusi is the first to react and his cross across the box finds Hayden but again Hawkes is out to him and blocks.

Half Time Tividale 0-1 Highgate United

For the second time in two games. From a Tividale corner the opposition clear and over run the Tividale defence. On this occasion though Hawkes again comes to the rescue denying Sanusi. On 52 minutes Higgs saw his header from a Derrick cross parried away by Brookes and a minute layer Delaney heads over a Mendez cross.

On 71 minutes came the Tividale equaliser. Highgate’s Hayden tries to run with the ball but Higgs tracks back and disposes him. He in turn finds Delaney and his cross is taken down beautifully by Tividale substitute TJ Davies in the area. His second touch is to lay off the ball into the path of Sangha who rifled the ball past Brookes and into the back of the net. I don’t think I can the team give the goal justice (so click here and have a look for yourself)

Tividale continued to press for a winner and on 77 minutes a neat ball in from Mendez to TJ Davies but after stretching for the initial ball he could not get his shot off and Brookes raced off his line to clear the ball. in the 82 minute Bratt-Wyton went close with an effort that was deflected for a corner. Highgate themselves had chances in the closing moments as substitute Randy Osei tried his luck from range but Hawkes watched it go sailing over his crossbar. A Sangha free kick as the game moved into injury time gave the home side the cance to take all three points but he put it wide.

Full Time Tividale 1-1 Highgate United

Tividale:- 1. Ethan Hawkes, 2. Tom Rann, 3. Sam Bratt-Wyton, 4. Jordan Sangha, 5. Callum Lloyd, 6. Harry Higginson, 7. Ethan Delaney , 8. Lewis Derrick (15. TJ Davies 72) , 9. Ryan Piggott, 10. Alfie Higgs, 11. Mario Mendez (16. Michael Agyemang 71)

Unused Subs:- 17. Nashawn Blake

Midland Football League
Premier Division
Saturday 24th August 2024
Tividale 0-6 Whitchurch Alport

It’s a Funny Old Game

Sometimes things have a habit of giving you a kick in the teeth and this was one of those occasions. While the score line looks like we received a thrashing. It could have easily been 9-9 as we missed a host of great chances, struck the “woodwork” and although Ethan pulled off a string of great saves. He really had no chance with any of the goals of which at least 3 were deflected past him.

Tividale made two changes to the side that earned that last ditch point against Studley last week. Eddie Rann was injured in training last week and Matt Holland unavailable. Aon Mohammed Abbas and Harry Higginson came into the side.

Tividale had the first decent chance within the first couple of minutes when from a Whitchurch corner they broke but Alport keeper Jack Sheward did well to foil Michael Agyemang with a neat save. A minute later it was Hawkes in the Tividale goal that had to pull off a save from a Harry Bower shot. Three minutes later and it was Callum Knowles who tested Hawkes but the keeper parried his shot wide.

Alport were now well in charge and Jack Loughran should have at least tested Hawkes with an 8th minute shot that went over the Tividale bar. On 11 minutes Alport centre back Freddie Bishton headed over an Ellis Turner corner. Tividale’s next chance was on 15 minutes when an Alfie Higgs header was comfortably taken by Sheward. Two minutes later and Alport went deservedly ahead as George Carpenter fired in a low cross across the box that hit the heel of Sajad and gave Hawkes no chance.

Tividale were now struggling under a wave of Alport attacks and they could have gone 2-0 down in the 22nd minute when from a short free kick to Turner and he tested Hawkes with a shot but the Tividale keeper was equal to it.  Tividale had another great chance on 26 minutes when from a Jordan Sangha free kick Higginson headed wide.

Three minutes later and Alport doubled their lead when a cross comes off the thigh of an unmarked Josh Beamond and completely wrong foots Hawkes and the ball ends up in the net. Alport made it 3-0 in the 38th minute. Callum Knowles with the 3rd and it’s a simple tap in after Bower puts in a low ball into the 6 yard box.

On 42 minutes Tividale had a great chance to pull one back. Abbas breaks free, beats Bishton but with just Sheward to beat completely misses the target.

Half Time:- Tividale 0-3 Whitchurch Alport

Two minutes into the second period and Tividale again gave up a chance to drag themselves back into the game when both Ethan Delaney and Higgs were foiled by some last ditch Alport defending. Back came Alport and a Loughran cross to the back post in the 48th minute is headed over by Bower. 30 seconds later after a great run by Abbas he could only watch as his shot came back off the crossbar. Knowles then fired wide of Hawkes post in the 51st minute and then Sheward does brilliantly to save a Sangha effort with his feet and on 54 minutes Higginson heads a Bratt-Wyton free kick wide.

Alport ended the game as a contest with 20 minutes to go with their 4th. After a free kick the ball comes out to Adam Hailes and his shot is deflected off a defender’s back and into the net. A minute later and it’s 5-0. An Ollie Holden free kick is half cleared and it comes back out to Holden who drilled it past Hawkes.

Fair play to Tividale, they never stopped working and on another day Lewis Derrick’s shot after good work from fellow sub Mario Mendez may have ended up on the inside of the post instead of a whisker wide. But it was Alport with the final word in the 91st minute with another deflected goal from a Lewis Bloor shot.

Full Time:- Tividale 0-6 Whitchurch Alport

Tividale:- 1. Ethan Hawkes, 2. Tom Rann, 3. Brandon Mossini (16. TJ Davies 72), 4. Jordan Sangha, 5. Mohammed Sahil Sajad (12. Callum Lloyd 65), 6. Harry Higginson, 7. Michael Agyemang (15. Mario Mendez), 8. Sam Bratt-Wyton , 9. Ethan Delaney, 10. Alfie Higgs (14. Lewis Derrick 72), 11. Aon Mohammed Abbas

Unused Subs:- 17. Nashawn Blake

Midland Football League
Premier Division
Saturday 17th August 2024
Studley 1-1 Tividale

Never say die

After the midweek win against Romulus it was the difficult trip to Studley a venue that we have struggled at in recent times, but once again the work rate of the lad’s gave them the break that they deserved deep into injury time.

Once again the boss was forced into changes with Harry Higginson and Ryan Piggott unavailable and Mario Mendez reverting to the bench. Mohammed Sahil Sajad replaced Higginson at centre back. Michael Agyemang coming in on the right and Ethan Delaney switch to centre forward and Brandon Mossini wide left.

Studley had the first chance of the game after just 2 minutes when a Studley forward fired over. Tividale went close on 7 minutes when a Matt Holland ball found Delaney and he tried to chip the Studley keeper Brendan Bunn but his effort went wide.

Tividale were definitely the team in command and a  7th minute Sam Batt-Wyton free kick was met by the head of Holland but Bunn collected it comfortably. Mossini then did well to hold off the Studley defender and get his shot in on goal but it was not enough to trouble Bunn in the 22nd minute.

A Studley’s striker then tested Tividale keeper Ethan Hawkes with a shot that he gathered and they also had an effort well held by Hawkes.

Studley took the lead in the 29th minute when a long throw was not dealt with by the Tividale defence and the ball was bungled home by Studley player.

A Studley freekick on the right goes through everyone and out for a Tividale goal kick. From a short corner in the 39th minute to Jordan Sangha and his shot had Bunn concerned but it cleared the bar

Half Time: Studley 1-0 Tividale

Tividale continued to press from the start of the half and Sajad headed over a Sangha corner in the 49th minute
On the hour  a bit of confusion at the back for Tividale as a clearance goes back towards their own goal luckily it goes behind for a Studley corner.

Tividale finished the game the stronger and Delaney is dragged down twice in the space of about 5 minutes by a Studley defender on the edge of their area and twice his appeals are turned down by the officials, who indicate that they saw nothing in either case, Or was it a case of they just didn’t see the two challenges.

Batt-Wyton then whips in a free kick from the right of the Studley goal in the 78th minute, that they defend well and put out for a corner. As the game moved into the last 10 minutes the away side were now piling on the pressure and a Sangha free kick was headed clear for a corner.

As the game moved into injury time Studley had a great chance to double their lead, when a snap shot was well held by Hawkes. With 5 minutes of injury time played Tividale substitute Nashawn Blake hit a shot from 25 yards that Bunn pushed over his bar. From the resulting corner and keeper Hawkes also in the opposition box the corner is cleared to the edge of the box where Sajad takes it down on his chest and hammers it past Bunn and into the back of the net.

Full Time: Studley 1-1 Tividale

The last minute equaliser saw Tividale get what they deserved from the game as they kept going right to the end of the game. When Studley were in control of the game they were thwarted by Hawkes.

Tividale:- 1. Ethan Hawkes, 2. Tom Rann, 3. Sam Bratt-Wyton, 4. Jordan Sangha, 5. Matt Holland, 6. Mohammed Sahil Sajad, 7. Michael Agyemang (16. Jevani Robinson 89), 8. Eddie Rann (12. Nashawn Blake 81), 9. Ethan Delaney, 10. Alfie Higgs (15. Aon Mohammed Abbas 72), 11. Brandon Mossini (14. Mario Mendez 68)

Unused Subs:- None