Midland Junior Football League : 13th September 2014
Tividale 4 AFC Telford United 4
Report by Paul Rock
Today we welcomed AFC Telford United in what was our first home game of the season. We expected a tough game as we knew that this Telford side had beaten a strong Stourbridge team on the opening day last week. Tividale were also on a high after winning their opening game at Newport so we were expecting a competitive game and it didn’t disappoint!
Telford kicked off and both teams cancelled each other out in the opening stages especially in the combative midfield. The deadlock was broken on 10 minutes when a shot from Eddie Whatmore was initially saved by the keeper but the alert Jack Mills pounced on the rebound to give Tividale the lead. Samuel Okoka was causing problems for Telford down the right and he had two decent efforts before the main talking point of the game on 18 minutes.A lofted ball into the Tividale box looked to be falling nicely for our keeper Shane Willets but the Telford striker, who was not looking at the ball, bundled into him causing the ball to spill into the back of the net. The referee ignored the linesman’s flag and gave the goal and the game was level.
The goal shocked Tividale and within a minute they found themselves 2-1 down after a slip in defence was capitalised on and finished coolly by the Telford striker. Tividale composed themselves and went back on the attack and got their reward on 25 minutes with a great turn and finish from inside the box by Kenyon Taylor. Just two minutes later though it was 3-2 to Telford after a slick move down the left. Tividale could have levelled twice before half time when Kenyon and Josh Marsden went close but at half time they trailed.
Half time: Tividale 2 AFC Telford United 3
The second half started very even like the first but it was Tividale who went closest when a strong run and shot from down the left by Callum Parsons was blocked for a corner. Tividale continued to press and on 35 minutes it was 3-3 when a free kick from Eddie was spilt and once again Jack Mills reacted the quickest to fire home. Tividale should have taken the lead on 53 minutes when a cross field pass from Samuel rolled nicely for Kenyon who shot over the bar from close range. Just two minutes later they did take the lead; a fantastic run from Samuel down the left caused Telford problems and he drew the foul just outside the box. Eddie took the free kick and cleverly rolled the ball across the goal and who else but the poacher Jack Mills was there to finish. 4-3 to Tividale and a hat-trick for Jack!
As was the pattern of the game Telford reacted almost immediately when a ball over the top caught Tividale cold and the striker finished it superbly to level the game.
Both teams gave everything late on but there were no other clear chances and the game finished level. A great game of football enjoyed by all spectators but not necessarily the managers!
