Midland Football League
Premier Division
Saturday 16th March 2024
Studley 4-0 Tividale

No complaints

Tividale were hoping to build on their moral boosting performance against Bewdley Town last Saturday when they visited promotion chasing Studley. After a decent first 43 minute against a well organised side, two goals either side of the half time break put paid to their chances.

Stuart How made a change to the formation, bringing in Jack Pearlman for the departed Ryan Snape to form a back three and that was the only change from the Bewdley Town line up.

As expected Studley started the better and had their first effort on target after just 5 minutes but Louis Connor was equal to Zac Guinan’s shot. Connor was on hand again 10 minutes later, this time blocking a Romario Martin shot and again denying Guinan’s follow up shot. Martin again was in on Connor’s goal in the 32nd minute but this time it was Joe Burroughs who preserved the Tividale goal with a great block.

Tividale had their first shot on target after 35 minutes when Lewis Wright tried a long range effort that Studley keeper Brendon Bunn held comfortably and then 2 minutes later Wright played a neat one two with Callum Gillies but again Bunn saved. Tividale were now growing into the game and showing more attacking intent and Gillies fired a shot wide in the 39th minute as they applied even more pressure on the Studley defence.

The best Tividale chance fell to Lewis Taylor-Boyce on 40 minutes when he was first to react to a poor defensive Studley pass but he shot over. The visitors were punished 3 minutes later when following a sweeping move Finn Holmes with some great wing play pulled the ball into the area from the touchline and Romario Martin drilled the ball home.

Half Time:- Studley 1-0 Tividale

Eight minutes into the second period and Studley doubled their lead. This time Martin turned provider when he took down the ball unchallenged laid the ball off to Guinan who smashed the ball past Connor and into the back of the net.

Studley were now back in control and Sam Walton will feel he should have done better when heading a free kick wide in the 55th minute. On 62 minutes a John Mills free kick cleared the Tividale bar and Guinan also missed the target in the 65th minute. Bailey Fuller then tested Connor with an effort that he could only parry up in the air, but he claimed it at the second attempt.

Studley added a couple of goals in the last 20 minutes as Tividale waned. First on 70 minutes Holmes was played through the middle and on goal and he duly slotted the ball past Connor. Eight minutes later it was 4-0. Tividale again guilty of losing the ball in their third and not doing enough to win it back. This time Martin was able to stroll into the Tividale area, pick his spot and give Connor no chance.

Studley will feel they should have added a 5th with 5 minutes to go when Ishan Rehman met a Fuller cross with a shot that Connor did well to block. The ball rebounded back into the path of Rehman but he then put his shot wide.

Full Time:- Studley 1-0 Tividale

Tividale:- 1. Louis Connor, 2. Zac Kourouyianni 3. Callum Gillies (7. Craig Gregg 59), 4. Jakob Burroughs, 5. Lewis Wright, 6. Joe Burroughs, 8. Max Morris (10. Nashawn Blake 70), 9. Jack Till (11. Myles Durham 70), 14. Tom Cole (12. Kamol Campbell 59), 16. Jack Pearlman (18. Tarryl Davis 59), 19. Lewis Taylor-Boyce

Unused Sub:- None

Midland Football League
Premier Division
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Bewdley Town 0-2 Tividale

Bewdley pay the penalty twice

On the back of a hard fought point away from home, possibly the one team that you would like to meet to gather some momentum would be the team lying below Tividale at the bottom of the league with only the 4 points from 24 games. That is until you remember that three of those points came against us at The Beeches earlier in the season.

Tividale made four changes from the midweek draw at Uttoxeter. In came Jakob Burroughs, Lewis Wright, Ryan Snape and Tom Cole in place of Cain Smith, Jack Pearlman, Ewan Edwards and Tarryl Davis.

As expected Tividale were dominant from the off and were looking for the early goal or goals that would settle their nerves but long range shots from Jakob Burroughs and Ryan Snape were never going to trouble Kai Lloyd in the Bewdley goal. But Bewdley also have to be commended for staying disciplined in defence and looking dangerous on the counter.

Snape then went really close in the 15th minute when his 25 yard effort, curled just over the angle of the crossbar and post. The home side had a golden chance in the 19th minute to take the lead when Emmanuel Olaloko played in Jack Ricketts, but his shot lacked any intent and it sailed wide. In the 25th minute Tividale’s Wright then found Callum Gillies with a cross field pass. The left back took it down brilliantly but fired his shot into the side netting. a minute later and Bewdley were on the attack but again ex Tividale full back Ibrahim Almane’s shot lacked any power.

On the half hour Tividale could have scored the team goal of their season when Tom Cole fired a long ball into Gillies who cushion chested the ball into the path of Jakob Burroughs but his first time volley flashed wide.

Half Time:- Bewdley Town 0-0 Tividale

Eight minutes into the second half and Max Morris tried one of his now trademark drives and Lloyd had to dive at full stretch to touch the ball over the bar. At the other end Bewdley were still dangerous and Gillies had to be alert to clear a Ricketts corner off the line in the 66th minute.

With 15 minutes to go Bewdley had another great chance to go ahead when substitute Kushal Phuyal fired over the bar after working himself in a good shooting position. That was the last decent chance the home side had and within 5 minutes Tividale were awarded a penalty when Snape was brought down in the Bewdley area and Till made no mistake from the spot.

The fight had now been sucked out of the home side with the penalty decision and 9 minutes later in the 90th minute, they conceded a second penalty. This time goalkeeper Lloyd bringing down Lewis Taylor-Boyce and in a change of taker, Snape took the kick and although Lloyd got a hand to it, he could not keep the spot kick out

Full Time:- Bewdley Town 0-2 Tividale

Tividale:- 1. Louis Connor, 2. Zac Kourouyianni 3. Callum Gillies, 4. Jakob Burroughs, 5. Lewis Wright (11. Callum Powell 57), 6. Joe Burroughs, 8. Max Morris (7. Nashawn Blake 76), 9. Jack Till, 10. Ryan Snape, 14. Tom Cole (12. Kamol Campbell 68) 19. Lewis Taylor-Boyce

Unused Sub:- 16. Jack Pearlman, 18. Tarryl Davis

Midland Football League
Premier Division
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Uttoxeter Town 2- 2 Tividale

At last little shoots

For the first time in a while Tividale at least got something they deserved out of a game and on another day could have taken all the three points on offer. But we will take the point and hope to build on it.

With the turnaround of players over the last couple of weeks, manager Stuart How only made the three changes from the side that went down to Hednesford Town in the Walsall senior Cup a week ago. In came Cain Smith, Joe Burroughs and Tarryl Davis replacing Jakob Burroughs, Ryan Snape and Tom Cole.

Neither half was a great watch with the only difference was the second had the goals.

In a pretty uneventful first half. The only real goal threats came from defensive mistakes. A Jack Pearlman header back to keeper Louis Connor did not have the legs and Town’s forward Paul Hughes intercepted it but his shot lacked any power and Connor fielded it comfortably’

Tividale’s Jack Till then tried his luck with a snap shot that went wide and on 21 minutes Ewan Edwards whipped a cross across the Town 6 yard box that was just begging for a touch. Edwards was causing the Town defence all sorts of problems and another one of his crosses was scrambled clear by the Town defence in the 33rd minute.

Half Time:- Uttoxeter Town 0-0 Tividale

Tividale started the second half the best way possible when on their first attack, Edwards was hauled down in the area. Till stepped up and in the 47th minute continued his run of goals by slamming the spot kick into the roof of the net.

6 minutes later and Town were level. A ball into the Tividale area and everyone including Connor seemed to miss it and Tom Thorley had the simple task of turning the ball home. A minute later and a Callum Gillies free kick whistled across the face of the Town goal.

Despite the visitors pressure Town went ahead on the hour. Again Tividale found a way to shoot themselves in the foot. On the hour mark the ball is needlessly given away in the middle of the park. In an attempt to win the ball back the ball breaks to Town’s Haydn Brown and he races away and beats Connor in a one to one situation.

Tividale now threw everything at the home side and in the 67th minute a Gillies corner is scrambled over the line for Tividale’s second, Till’s second and most importantly the equalising goal.

The rest of the game saw Tividale with a lot of possession but unable to break through a resolute Uttoxeter defence and at the other end they looked dangerous when they were allowed to counter. But in the end a share of the points was how it ended.

Full Time:- Uttoxeter Town 2-2 Tividale

Tividale:- 1. Louis Connor, 2. Zac Kourouyianni 3. Callum Gillies (12. Kamol Campbell 77), 4. Cain Smith. 6. Joe Burroughs, 8. Max Morris, 9. Jack Till, 16. Jack Pearlman (14. Tom Cole 60), 17 Ewan Edwards, 18. Tarryl Davis, 19. Lewis Taylor-Boyce (11. Nashawn Blake 76)

Unused Sub:- 15. Jack Perry

Midland Football League
Premier Division
Saturday 17th February 2024
AFC Wulfrunians 2-1 Tividale

We cannot get out of the rut

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League

AFC Wulfrunians were looking for a result yesterday afternoon to continue their good form under Carl Abbott and cement their position in the top half of the table. The Wulf’s have grown into the season and were unbeaten in their last three matches coming into this one.

Tividale have struggled in the premier division this season and are involved in a relegation battle to stay in step five.

The starting line-up for AFC Wulfrunians included Joe Williams starting in goal and Bradley Maslen-Jones captaining the team from central defence. The formation looked like a 3-4-3 with Daniel Munday playing up front and being supported on the wings by Kane Lee and Finlay Barker.

There were two changes from the team that started against Dudley Town last weekend with Lee Chilton coming back into the team and playing at left wing-back.

Tividale’s starting line-up featured Louis Connor starting in goal and Zach Kourouyianni captaining the team from central defence. The formation appeared to be a 3-4-3 with a front two of Jack Till and Ryan Snape being supported by Max Morris in the attacking midfield role.

There were three changes from the team that started against Dudley Town in mid-week with Joe Burroughs coming back into the team and playing as part of a back three.

AFC Wulfrunians started the match brightly and took the game to Tividale early on. They were making things happen in the final third and causing problems down the wings in the opening twenty minutes. The best chance to take the lead fell to Kane Lee on the right wing who made an excellent run before having a shot hit the far post.

Tividale did a good job of seeing the opening twenty minutes out to get a foothold in the match and looked well organised off the ball to limit the clear-cut chances in front of goal for AFC Wulfrunians. They were growing into the match as the first half went on and were passing the ball around well.

The visitors were starting to get into a rhythm with the only thing missing being the final ball to cause AFC Wulfrunians problems defensively. Tividale were building attacks well and playing out from the back to stifle AFC Wulfrunians’ early momentum.

AFC Wulfrunians did a good job to contain Tividale’s attacking threat and had a good chance to take the lead on the half hour mark. An excellent free kick into the box was headed over the bar by Jack Rowley. Both teams were knocking on the door to take the lead in an even first half.

The hosts managed to take the lead on the 33rd minute to make it 1-0. Finlay Barker was fouled in the box by Joe Burroughs for a spot kick with Daniel Munday stepping up to take it. His initial effort was instinctively saved by Louis Connor before the rebound fell into his path to finish into the bottom right corner.

It was tough on Tividale who competed well up to that point and it gave the hosts a sense of control over the match.

The last ten minutes of the first half was action packed with a lot of notable chances in front of goal from both teams. Kane Lee had a good chance from a second ball that was delivered into the box before putting his effort over the bar.

The best chance for Tividale in the first half came late on when Jack Till made a brilliant run and was one on one with Joe Williams before firing wide. Malcolm Melvin played an excellent chipped ball over the AFC Wulfrunians defence from midfield that was well anticipated by Jack Till near the edge of the box to create the opening.

AFC Wulfrunians mainly played a possession-based style and liked to invite Tividale on to them so they could play a long ball over the defence. They had an excellent chance to make it 2-0 at the end of the first half where an accurate long ball found Tom Poole down the right. The Wing-back advanced into the box before having an effort go wide.

Half Time:- AFC Wulfrunians 1-0 Tividale

AFC Wulfrunians managed to make it 2-0 early in the second half to make it an uphill task for the visitors. A well delivered corner found Dexter Dudley-Toole at the back post who headed the ball into the net. It was a well worked set piece routine from the hosts, but Tividale would have felt disappointed as they could have put considerable pressure on the hosts in the second half.

From 2-0 down Tividale were chasing the match for the rest of the second half. One of the positives for the visitors was how they stuck to their passing style and showed character to keep going despite the scoreline. Their best chance in the second half came when a neat passing move resulted in Jack Till having a shot well saved in the box at the near post by Joe Williams.

AFC Wulfrunians’ best chance of the second half came when a good ball into the box by Curtis Cocking found Kane Lee in the box who fired narrowly wide of the far post. The front three for AFC Wulfrunians impressed throughout this match and were creating several good chances in the box which was a real positive yesterday.

Tividale did manage to get a goal back late on to set up a nervy finish to the match. A well delivered free kick by Ryan Snape found Joe Burroughs in the box who finished well at the back post to make it 2-1. This proved to be a consolation for the visitors with AFC Wulfrunians holding on to take home the three points and their sixth home win of the season.

Full Time

AFC Wulfrunians played well in this match and were worthy of the win. There’s quality throughout the team both on and off the ball and they showed a lot of effort and endeavour yesterday to get a result.

Bradley Maslen-Jones was excellent at the back and read the game well from central defence. He managed to stop several promising Tividale attacks to take the pressure off the hosts, especially in the first half. Joe Williams also had a good game and made some crucial saves to give AFC Wulfrunians the three points.

Dennis Digie had an underrated game from holding midfield and was linking up the play well. He offered the team a sense of composure when building attacks from midfield and moved the ball quickly through the thirds of the pitch.

Tividale played well in this match despite the result. They showed a lot of character and effort throughout the afternoon and have quality on the ball to make things happen.

The front two of Ryan Snape and Jack Till played well and looked a threat in the final third. Ryan Snape has been notably good at creating chances at this level and could be the difference in tight matches for the visitors. Jack Till was getting into some good positions around the box which was encouraging.

Malcolm Melvin had an underrated game from holding midfield and was passing the ball around well, especially in the first half. He linked up the play well for the visitors and gave them a way of growing into the match.

Overall, there were encouraging signs that they could pick up results to have a chance of staying up.

Full Time:- AFC Wulfrunians 2-1Tividale