Midland Football League
Premier Division
Tuesday 29th March 2022
Wolverhampton Casuals 4-1 Tividale

It’s oh so Casual for Wolves

Tividale’s current form continued to go south as they suffered a second successive defeat. This time at the hands of Wolves Casuals. Yet for the first 30 minutes no one could have seen this result coming.

With Lewis McPike unavailable Ethan Muckley was brought back into the starting eleven. The other change to the personnel was Peter Hawk back in between the stick’s in place of Louis Connor. On the bench Dan Bryson was out injured but Brad Welding was back in the squad and on the bench after his 4-match holiday.

As mentioned previously it was a very good and if anything, the visitors had the better of the chances in the first 30 minutes and Tividale had taken the lead after just 4 minutes when a Hawk clearance was helped on by Curtis Cocking to Dan Smith and the striker beat Casuals keeper Jake Daniels with a crisp finish.

Casuals may feel a little aggrieved when forward Ronan Sheehan looked to have gone down under a Hawk challenge after 18 minutes but the man in the middle waived play on. Smith then whipped in a brilliant cross on 20 minutes that Muckley just could not get a touch too. Six minutes later Smith was again the provider’ This time finding Darragh Bustin with a pull back from the bye line, but Bustin could not keep his shot down. On the half hour Sheehan then went on a mazy run from one side of the pitch to the other but his resulting shot was gathered comfortably by Hawk.

In the 32nd minute the scores were level when Tividale failed to clear a Casuals left wing cross and Josh Hesson unmarked from 6 yards out fired home. The home side went close to taking the lead after 34 minutes when a Tom Cole free kick was struck into the side netting. On 41 minutes they were in front and beginning to boss the game. Tividale skipper Matt Hunt turning a Sheehan right wing cross past Hawk and into his own net.

Sheehan again created another chance a couple of minutes before the break when he found Hesson but the forward was unable to get his second goal with the chance ending with the ball going into the side netting.

Half Time Wolverhampton Casuals 2-1 Tividale

The first half had some robust challenges in it and the second half saw no let up. Bustin had the first decent chance of the second period when he worked himself into a shooting position but his shot lacked the power to worry Daniel and the keeper collected with no worries. Casuals were now well in control and Hawk did well to deny Cole in the 58th minute.

The game was over as a contest with 13 minutes to go. First on 70 minutes Tividale’s Smith was shown a straight red card for a challenge that was classed as serious foul play. Then 7 minutes later a direct Musa Ceesay free kick flew past Hawk and into the net to make the score 3-1.

Casuals were now making a mockery of their lowly position and threatened to run away with the scoring as Tividale were now in all defend mode and on 82 minutes the home side added a 4th. With Hesson grabbing his second tap of the night in after a right-wing cross. Hawk did well to keep Casuals from getting a 5th with a flying save in the 88th save to deny Roger Bosio.

Full Time Wolverhampton Casuals 4-1 Tividale

Tividale: – 1. Peter Hawk, 2. Tom Hurdman 3. Elliott Hartley, 4. Luke Carter (14 Joe Burroughs 82), 5. Lucas Muckley (15 Brad Welding 82), 6. Matt Hunt, 7. Jason Wood, 8. Curtis Cocking, 9. Dan Smith, 10. Ethan Muckley (12. Owen Waterfield 82), 11. Darragh Bustin.

Unused Subs: – 13. Louis Connor

Midland Football League
Premier Division
Saturday 26th March 2022
Tividale 2-2 Racing Club Warwick

Tividale Not At The Races

After last week’s escape with a point. The hope was for better this week. Unfortunately, The Racer’s took no heed of the script and in the end ran out comfortable winners as once again the home side failed to threaten.

Manager Dave King shuffled the pack again. With Dan Bryson running late, Lucas Muckley was moved to centre back. Darragh Bustin dropped in at left back and Jason Wood came into Bustin’s midfield position.

The first chance of the game fell to Warwick after just 2 minutes with the forward finding himself unmarked in the centre of the box, unfortunately the ball was a little bit under his feet, he did manage to dig an effort out, however he was unable to generate any power and it was comfortable for Louis Connor in the Tividale goal. 8 minutes is all it took for the ref to get his cards out in this game with a booking to Warwick after a slightly late challenge in the middle of the park it was one of those where the ball was off the ground and both players were genuinely going for the ball, however the studs of the Warwick defender made contact with the ankle of the Tividale forward. Just 2 minutes later Tividale had their first effort of the game Luke Carter woth an effort from distance which was comfortable for for the Warwick keeper. Warwick managed to split the Tividale defence on 16 minutes when the forward chased down a flick on but the defender managed to recover to muscle the forward out of it and the ball rolled through to Connor. Daragh Bustin lined up a freekick for Tividale just in the edge of the box on 31 minutes, his effort forcing the Warwick keeper into a good save down to his left. Warwick then went straight down the other end and a half volley was sent well over the bar from the corner of the box. In the 34th minute Warwick tried to cath Tividale on the break Tom Hurdman tracks back and manages to get a deflection on the shot which wrong footted Louis Connor in the Tividale goal but fortunately it went behind for a corner to Warwick. 4 minutes later Warwick caught Tividale on the counter again with the forward spinning the defender and bearing down on the Tividale goal he unleashed a powerful effort which is just off target, a few including myself thought it had gone in. Just a minute later Warwick had another chance to take the lead as the ball was crossed into the box the forward managed to get himself free but completely missed the ball for what would have been a certain goal, it went behind for a Tividale goalkick. 31 minutes Tividale with a freekick just inside the Warwick half it’s played deep into the Warwick box and a header is sent well wide of the goal. The deadlock was eventually broken on 39 minutes as Warwick took a long throw unot the Tividale box which was flicked in at the near post, Josh Parsons found himself completely free just outside the 6 yard box and he side footed one past a helpless Louis Connor in the Tividale goal. Warwick came close to extending their lead on 45 minutes as Louis Connor had to keep his eye on a looping header from a Warwick freekick the Tividale stopper did well and collected it underneath his crossbar. Tividale had the final shot of the half, the effort summed up their half as it was way off the mark.

Half Time Tivdale 0-1 Racing Club Warwick

Warwick deservedly led at the break and would have been disappointed not to have had another goal two as they completely dominated the forst 45 minutes. Tividale needed a much improved performance in the second half to get anything from the game.

The first opportunity, which was more of a half chance, of the second of half went to Tividale, on 54 minutes a flick on from a goal kick drew the Warwick centre half out of position the ball came to Elliot Hartley in the box, unfortunately his first touch wasn’t as good as he would have liked, which allows the defence to recover and clear the ball away. In the next attack Daragh bustin works his way down the left and crosses the ball into the box it evades everyone and bounces off the top of the Warwick crossbar. Warwick had their first effort of the second half on 58 minutes with a low shot driven wide of the Tividale goal. On 63 minutes Warwick picked up their second booking of the gane as the defender is judged to have brought down Daragh Bustin on the corner of the box, it looked a little harsh to us as the defender seemed to win the ball cleanly. From the resulting freekick Bustin hit the top of the Warwick crossbar for a second time. Dan Bryson picked up an injury during the freekick as the Warwick keeper seemed to land on his leg whilst diving attempting to get something on Bustin’s effort, Purley accidental and from the reaction of the Warwick keeper you could see he was just trying to keep the ball out of his net. Warwick extended their lead on 70 minutes as their defence picked up the ball on the edge of their own box and played a long ball forward which split the Tividale defence Danny Murphy latched onto the end of the pass and slides the ball past Louis Connor in the Tividale goal. Tividale had a penalty appeal turned down on 74 minutes as there was a coming together in the Warwick box Dan Smith asked the question the ref waved it away, it was difficult to tell of their was anything it, but can’t blame Smith for asking the question. Smith had Tivdale’s best chance of the game on 80 minutes as the ball broke to him in the Warwick box from a long through throw he had his back to goal and it was slightly under him he managed to stab an effort goalwards but it went just wide. Warwick should have extended their lead on 87 minutes as the forward finds himself in acres of space inside the Tividale box but for some reason he decideded to hit the shot early and its a comfortable save for Louis Connor. 90+4 minutes a final.chance for Warwick as an effort on goal is spilled by Louis Connor but he gathers it at the second attempt.

Full Time Tividale 0-2 Racing club Warwick

Warwick were well in control of the game and should really have had more but I’m sure they will be happy with the 3 points and a clean sheet. Tividale were well off the pace.

Tividale: – 1. Louis Connor, 2. Tom Hurdman 3. Darragh Bustin, 4. Luke Carter, 5. Lucas Muckley (15. Dan Bryson 46) (14 Joe Burroughs 63), 6. Matt Hunt, 7. Lewis McPike (12. Ethan Muckley 55) 8. Curtis Cocking, 9. Dan Smith, 10. Jason Wood, 11. Elliott Hartley.

Unused Subs: – 16. Owen Waterford, 17. TJ Munthali

Midland Football League
Premier Division
Saturday 19th March 2022
Tividale 2-2 Highgate United

Tivi hit the High’s after the Low’s

For the second consecutive Saturday, Tividale found themselves 2 goals down at one point but unlike the game at Stourport a week ago they were able to salvage a point out of this week’s situation

Manager Dave King made a couple of personnel changes and a couple of positional changes. But stayed with the 4,3,3 formation from the week before. In came Louis Connor between the stick’s and Lucas Muckley for his first start at left back. This enabled Darragh Bustin to play in a more forward role. The players that missed out from last week being Peter Hawk and Ethan Muckley.

In a half dominated by the high wind. It was Highgate who were the better side in the opening skirmishes and Kyle Carey had the first decent effort shooting wide after just 5 minutes. On 9 minutes Highgate were back at Tividale when again with the ball swirling in the wind Charlie Stanton got the better of Tividale Defender Dan Bryson. His initial shot was blocked by Connor who gathered the ball at the second attempt

Tividale’s first effort of note came in the 16th minute when Bustin fired one high and wide. That was a rare foray in the Highgate penalty area and the visitors had another great chance in the 26th minute when from a Joe Blowers corner. Nathan Pulisciano arrived at the back post unmarked but was only able to hit his shot into the side netting. On 32 minutes Jay Clements tried an effort from range for the visitors but his shot took a deflection and it turned into an easy save for Connor.

With the visitors still on top Tividale were having to do more defending than they would have liked and goalkeeper Connor escaped what could have been a serious injury when he bravely dived at the feet of Faulkner. Faulkner did catch him in his follow through and received a yellow card, but both players agreed there was no intent, got up shook hands and got on with the game. The last decent attack of the half again fell to Highgate, with Clements shooting wide after good work from Blowers.

Tividale did end the half with a little pressure on the visitors back line but it was definitely Highgate’s half

Half time: Tividale 0-0 Highgate United

The game burst into life after 55 minutes when Highgate opened the scoring. A through ball from Clement down the left between full back and centre back found Carey and despite the appeals from the Tividale back line he coolly slotted the ball past Connor and into the back of the net.

Highgate were still carrying the game to Tividale and again it was Carey the goal threat in the 62nd minute when he shot wide again. Then on 70 minutes Connor did well to deny Stanton when the striker was through one on one. The visitors doubled their lead after 78 minutes when Connor could not hold onto a Carey cross and the ball fell to Stranton for an easy tap in.

From the restart the home side had their second shy at goal. A long ball from Lucas Muckley found his brother Ethan who’s neat little flick found Bustin but he shot wide. With 8 minutes to go Tividale won a free kick outside and to the left of the Highgate penalty area. Bustin placed the ball and then hit one of his specials. The ball flying into the top right-hand corner with Highgate keeper Reece Francis beaten all ends up.

Tividale now had their tails up and from looking dead and buried after 82 minutes were back in the game and in the 87th minute it was all square. Through either a great training ground goal or a great piece of fortune.

We will go with the former. The home side won a corner. Elliott Hartley went up and looked as though he was going to swing it into the box from the right. Instead, it was put into the front post, where Luke Carter hooked it beyond everyone and into the back of the net. Tividale could have gone on and won it in the closing stages as Highgate defended frantically and deep. First of all, a Bustin long throw found its way to Curtis Cocking and his shot was parried away by Francis. The rebound came out to Bustin and his effort was bundled out for a corner and Highgate survived and the points were shared.

Full time: Tividale 2-2 Highgate United

Tividale: – 1. Louis Connor, 2. Tom Hurdman 3. Lucas Muckley, 4. Luke Carter, 5. Dan Bryson, 6. Matt Hunt, 7. Lewis McPike (14. Jason Woods 60), 8. Curtis Cocking, 9. Dan Smith (12. Ethan Muckley 74), 10. Darragh Bustin, 11. Elliott Hartley (16. Owen Waterfield 89)

Unused Subs: – 15. Joe Burroughs.

Midland Football League
Premier Division
Saturday 12th March 2022
Stourport Swifts 4-2 Tividale

Stourport too Swift for Tivi

It was supposed to be a day celebrating the 250th time that manager Dave King had took his place in the Tividale dug out. But no one had told the home side and in an amazing opening 24 minutes the score was 3-2 to the hosts.

For his landmark game. The Gaffer decided to keep the same starting eleven that earned that gritty win at Whitchurch Alport a week ago. The only change was Joe Burroughs on the bench in place of the Bilston Town bound Cameron Milne.

It was Tividale who started the game the better and Lewis McPike had the first shot in the very first minute, but he could not keep his effort down. They continued to dominate possession as Swifts struggled to get into the game. On 7 minutes Stoirport were in the game and how. A long ball found ex West Brom and Coventry striker Lee Hughes and he chested the ball down to strike partner and another journeyman Lee Chilton who’s shot bounced in front of Tividale keeper Peter Hawk, who misjudged the ball and it flew over his dive and into the net.

A minute later and from the second Swifts attack of the game, Tividale full back Tom Hurdman gets the wrong side of Hughes and takes him down in the area. Drew Canavan steps up and sends Hawk the wrong way. Swifts were now looking rampant but on 16 minutes the visitors were back in the game. A quick Darragh Bustin throw found the alert Dan Smith, but he was upended by Swifts keeper Dominic Richards as he raced into the area. Luke Carter drilled the spot kick high into the left-hand side of the net 2-1.

Four minutes later and Swifts had restored their two-goal advantage. This time Tividale allowed Jim Hanson the freedom of their penalty area after cutting in from the left and he duly fired home from an acute angle. Tividale were still not done and on 24 minutes the deficit was back to one. A poor Richards clearance was intercepted by Ethan Muckley and his neat chip found Smith who steered the ball past the onrushing Richards. 3-2

The action was still end to end as both teams looked like scoring on every attack they had. Hughes headed a Taylor Townsend 34th minute cross wide when he looked odds on to score. Then on 38 minutes Tividale had a great chance to level the scores when Elliott Hartley found Smith who held off his marker, but this time he put his effort wide.

Smith had the last chance of the half when again poor defending in the 44th minute left him clear on goal but he got his finish all wrong and the ball sailed high and wide.

Half time: Stourport Swifts 3-2 Tividale

From the first real threat on goal of the half, Stourport went 4-2 up. In the 51st minute with the ball swirling in the wind, Hughes held off the challenge of Dan Bryson, beat him to a ball placed the ball past Hawk and into the back of the net.

The game itself settled down and the second period never looked like it was going to see the flurry of goals that there was in the first. Swifts could have extended their lead on the hour mark when Mason Birch put in Townsend but he shot wide. Hawk then had to be alert at his near post in the 67th minute when Swifts substitute Edilson Antonio lashed a fierce effort but the keeper did well to beat it away.

Going into the final 10 minutes it was the home side that were the stronger as Tividale struggled to put any concerted pressure on the home defence. Swifts had a couple of decent chances to extend the lead in the closing period. First in the 85th minute after some great work from Antonio he played in fellow sub Elliott Lees but he fired his shot straight at Hawk. Then in the 88th minute Antonio was again the beneficiary of some sloppy Tividale defending, but again he could not hit the target.

It was not the defensive performance which we have been used to but a major plus was that with 15 minutes to go young 16-year-old youth team player Owen Waterfield came on for his first team debut.

Full time: Stourport Swifts 4-2 Tividale

Tividale: – 1. Peter Hawk, 2. Tom Hurdman (12. Lucas Muckley 66), 3. Darragh Bustin, 4. Luke Carter, 5. Dan Bryson 6. Matt Hunt, 7. Lewis McPike, 8. Curtis Cocking, 9. Dan Smith, 10. Ethan Muckley (14. Owen Waterfield 75), 11. Elliott Hartley

Unused Subs: – 13. Louis Connor. 15. Joe Burroughs, 16. TJ Munthali