Competition: MFL Premier

Sporting Khalsa vs Tividale

Midland Football League

Premier Division
Tuesday 22nd December 2020
Sporting Khalsa 3-3 Tividale

3 games, 5 penalties, 3 points

And no goals conceded in open play.

After the disappointment on Saturday of dropping 2 points in injury time to a penalty for the second successive game. This ending was quite the opposite.

For some mad reason the squad and staff had decided to have their Covid Christmas Party in the changing room after the game. To have it away at the league leaders could have been better planned. But it was what it was

With a full squad available apart from the suspended Adam Garmson Manager Dave King rotated his squad from Saturday. In came Jacob Barnes, Brad Welding and Liam Wilkinson replacing Dan Bryson, Elliott Hartley and Cameron Milne who were all on the bench.

Tividale got off to a flyer and should have been ahead with their first attack after just 2 minutes but Darragh Bustin’s attempted chip did not get the required elevation to beat Khalsa keeper Sam Arnold and he was able to reach up for it.

Although Khalsa threatened they did not work Tividale keeper Adam Harrison and on 5 minutes the visitors took the lead. After some great work from Bustin he slid the ball through to Dan Smith who slotted home between Arnold and his near post.

As expected Khalsa came roaring back and 4 minutes later striker Ethan Jones flashed an effort wide of Harrison’s post. On14 minutes Jones’s strike partner Gurjit Singh was foiled by a great Barnes tackle. Khalsa carried on dominating possession but were always wary of Smith and Bustin’s pace on the counter.

Jones went even closer on the half hour when he worked himself a shooting chance but his shot took a deflection onto the cross bar and over. Tividale had another golden chance on 37 minutes when a Bustin free kick was met by Joe Hawkins but he swept his shot just wide.

A minute later and the host’s were level. Barnes in going for a challenge in the penalty area caught Jones and though most thought the forward had gone down easily Barnes admitted he had slipped and caught him. Gibraltar international Jake Gosling stepped up, placed the ball on the spot and smashed it past Harrison to level the scores.

The game continued in it’s end to end fashion after the equaliser with Smith heading a Lewis McPike corner wide for the visitors in the 41st minute. On 44 minutes Jones again worked a shooting chance for himself but shot straight at Harrison and then McPike ended the half with a good effort from a Bustin cross but he hit it straight at Arnold

Half Time:- Sporting Khalsa 1-1 Tividale

Tividale made the worse possible start to the second half when after 48 minutes Welding was adjudged to have fouled Gosling on the edge of the area. Again there was minimal if any contact and there were claims that the initial challenge happened outside the area. All this was in vain as Gosling again beat Harrison with the spot kick.

Both teams made a spate of substitutions around the 65 minute mark and Harrison had to produce a smart save to deny Khalsa substitute Liam Armstrong and a couple of minutes later a Bustin free kick failed to trouble Arnold.

The home side nearly extended their lead on 72 minutes when Sean Williams headed just wide a Lewis Worsey free kick. Tividale then levelled the score on 80 minutes when they were gifted a goal. The normally reliable Arnold decides to take one touch to many and McPike pick’s his pocket and from an acute angle side foots in the equaliser.

Armstrong then hit another effort down Harrisons throat on 81 minutes as the home side pressed for the winner. Then 3 minutes after pulling themselves level. Harrison comes out for a ball played into the Tividale box. He races out to gather the ball before the onrushing Khalsa striker. The Khalsa striker goes down and Mr Howe points to the spot for a third time. Which Gosling dispatched as efficiently as the previous two. Armstrong had another great chance in the 87th minute to put the game to bed but again Harrison denied him.

With the game deep into injury time Khalsa cleared the ball towards the half way line. Elliott Hartley launched himself and beat to Khalsa players to the ball. He then released Bustin down the left with a well weighted pass. Bustin then fired in a cross with the outside of his right boot and he found McPike at the back post and he slammed the ball home to earn the visitors a point.

Win. Lose or draw they would have still had the party. But the result definitely upped the volume a notch or two.

Full Time:- Sporting Khalsa 3-3 Tividale

Tividale: 1. Adam Harrison, 2. Tom Hurdman (12. Will Rawlins 67), 3. Darragh Bustin, 4. Jacob Barnes, 5. Joe Hawkins, 6. Matt Hunt (c), 7. Lewis McPike, 8. Liam Wilkinson, 9. Dan Smith, 10. Luke Carter (16. Cameron Milne 67), 11. Brad Welding (15. Elliott Hartley 60)

Unused Subs: 14. Dan Bryson, 17. Sam Bryan

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Tividale vs Worcester City

Midland Football League

Premier Division
Saturday 19th December 2020
Tividale 1-1 Worcester City

Deja Vu

It was 56 days from Saturday 24th October 2020 to Saturday 19th December. That was the length of time without competitive football. Yet what happened 56 days ago came back to repeat itself. 1-0 up deep into injury time only to concede a penalty.

After the enforced break changes were expected and Tividale boss Dave King gave seasonal debut’s to the returning Dan Bryson from injury, Cameron Milne returning from AFC Bridgnorth and Darragh Bustin dual signed from Stourbridge.

Tividale were immediately on the front foot and after 8 minutes took the lead. Bustin was sent away but his shot was parried away by Worcester keeper Dan Jezeph. But the stopper could do nothing about Lewis McPike burying the rebound. Bustin forced another save on 14 minutes as the home side threatened to add to their score.

Worcester’s first effort on goal came in the 21st minute when Josh Willis tried an effort from the edge of the penalty area. But Tividale keeper Adam Harrison had it covered as it went wide. 6 minutes later and a Tom Hurdman cross from the right wing back position found Elliott Hartley but his turn and shot also went wide of Jezeph’s post. On the half hour a loose Tividale pass was pounced on by City’s Chris Withington who played the ball to striker Andy Nichol, but his heavy first touch enabled Harrison to get to the ball first.

Tividale could have easily gone 2-0 upon on 37 minutes when a header from City defender and Tividale old boy Ben Birch landed at the feet of centre back partner Nat Kelly in the 6 yard box and his clearance hit Dan Bryson and fizzed past Jezeph’s post for a goal kick. Two minutes later and possibly the save of the game. Willis latches onto a Jamie Smith pass. He fires in a shot from the edge of the box. Harrison is going to meet it when it takes a massive deflection that Harrison can only throw out a arm at. He somehow knocks the ball in the air and dives on the loose ball.

Half Time:- Tividale 1-0 Worcester City

The visitors had the ball in the net on 53 minutes when after some great work from Sean Brain he played in Willis, who overan the ball and Bryson came into clear the ball. It cannoned back off Willis into the path of Brain who had carried on his run, who then rounded Harrison and slotted home with all the Tividale defence appealing for offside. There was no flag from the assistant but after a discussion with the referee an offside was given.

Tividale then had a number of chances to put the game to bed. First on 57 minutes Bustin has Jezeph saving with his feet. The ball came out to Dan Smith who put the rebound over the bar. 5 minutes later and Jezeph denies Bustin again. City then had a great chance when Matt Hunt missed the ball and let Brain through but Harrison was equal to his shot, turning it away. Bustin then had another chance that beat the City keeper but also his far post. On 72 minutes a poor Jezeph clearance is headed down to McPike by Bustin. And he also fails to beat Jezeph when one on one.

With 10 minutes to go Bustin was through on goal again, when Kelly brought him down on the edge of the box, giving the referee no choice but to show him the red card.

Tividale really should have run down the clock But instead they allowed the full of running Brain to get behind them once more deep into injury time. He then tried to pick out substitute Trevor Townsend who in his attempt to get onto the end of the pass was bundled over in the area by Tividale’s Luke Carter who had tracked him back. Brain stepped up and drilled the spot kick down the middle of the goal to earn the visitor’s a share of the points.

Full Time:- Tividale 1-1 Worcester City

Tividale: 1. Adam Harrison, 2. Tom Hurdman, 3. Elliott Hartley, 4. Dan Bryson, 5. Joe Hawkins, 6. Matt Hunt (c), 7. Lewis McPike  (15. Sam Bryan 83), 8. Cameron Milne (14. Brad Welding 88), 9. Dan Smith, 10. Luke Carter, 11. Darragh Bustin

Unused Subs: 12. Will Rawlins, 13. Peter Hawk

Images by Focus Dunn – see more HERE.

 

Images by Nigel Cliff Photography – see more HERE

 

 

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AFC Wulfrunians vs Tividale

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 (more…)

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Tividale vs Haughmond

The teamsheet for this game can be downloaded HERE

Midland Football League

Premier Division
Tuesday 20th October 2020
Tividale 4-1 Haughmond

 Tividale Haugh’nt The Mond

It’s been a tough start to the season and on Saturday these lads will have played an amazing 16 games in 54 days. So, the 2-week rest after this Saturday’s game at AFC Wulfruniuns will be most welcome to all those carrying injuries and tired legs. On the other hand, it’s been a long time since Tividale had eight days like this and I am sure some of us just don’t want a break.

On the other hand, our visitors Haughmond were coming to us on the back of a horror run. But we have learned over the years that form at this level means nothing and having played them regularly over the last few years we know they are in a false league position.

Tividale went into this game with the one change from Saturday’s starting eleven. Elliott Hartley replacing Brad Welding at left wing back who had work commitments.

The game started as expected with both sides looking to stamp their authority on the it and Haughmond posed the first threat in the first minute when Scott Ryan tried an effort that just went wide of the upright.

On 6 minutes a Lewis McPike free kick was headed wide by Joe Hawkins. Then in the 17th minute a neat reverse pass from Adam Garmson found Hartley in the penalty area and Haughmond defender Jordan Broome in trying to clear the ball, brought Hartley down. Luke Carter stepped up and drove the ball into the bottom left-hand corner and although Haughmond keeper Sam Jones guessed the right way, he could not get a hand to it.

On 20 minutes Hartley was again brought down on the edge of the box. McPike took the free kick forcing a parry from Jones but Dan Smith could not keep the rebound down and fired it over the bar.

Haughmond’s Jack Parry should have cashed in on some defensive indecision after 27 minutes but struck his shot wide. And then he was foiled on the half hour by a tremendous Jacob Barnes block on the penalty spot.

Tividale as usual against Haughmond was having trouble with the Carl Rogers long throw and on 39 minutes one of them found its way to the back post but Callum Bennett with an open goal at his mercy headed the ball wide.

Haughmond were still in the game and a minute before the break were in with another chance but Louis Irvine although through on goal his shot lacked any power and Harrison collected comfortably.

Half Time: Tividale 1-0 Haughmond

Tividale had to make a change within 4 minutes of the second half when Smith could not run off an earlier injury and was replaced by Ryan Grosvenor. And 2 minutes later on 51 minutes Haughmond were level.  Another Rogers missile of a throw was initially dealt with but the clearance went back to the thrower and his cross was not dealt with and Haughmond skipper Jack Griffiths was there to turn the ball home.

Hartley had been on the receiving end of some hefty and not always legal challenges. The majority by Haughmond full back Adam Knott and after he received a final warning after an earlier booking, he was replaced by Dan Walker on 70 minutes.

A minute later and after another poor Tividale clearance Scott Ryan got hold of the ball but Harrison was equal to his shot and pushed it out for a corner that Tividale cleared.

On 73 minutes Garmson whipped a cross to the back post but Will Rawlins just failed to get something on it. With 76 minutes gone Grosvenor was brought down on the edge of the box. Garmson stepped up and placed the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.

Two minutes later it was 3-1. Walker was having as much success as the man he replaced with Hartley. The winger skipped past his challenge and found an unmarked Garmson at the back post to stroke the ball home.

Haughmond were still creating chances and on 84 minutes Ryan had an excellent volley saved by Harrison. A minute later and it was the turn of our Youth Team’s 16-year-old Alfie Watts to skip down Tividale’s left and his cross was met by Garmson but Jones was equal to his shot and cleared by a defender.

Tividale were still causing all sorts of problems down the Haughmond right and on 90 minutes they were successful again. This time it was Grosvenor who beat Walker and got to the touch line before cutting the ball back to Garmson to smash it past Jones at his near post and into the back of the net for his hat trick.

Haughmond almost conceded a 5th deep into injury time when another Grosvenor right wing cross looked to be comfortably dealt with by Haughmond’s Matt Fletcher. But instead of putting it out for a corner he miscued the clearance sending it goal wards and Jones did well to slide across his goal line and kick the ball clear.

Full Time: Tividale 4-1 Haughmond

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