Midland Football League

Premier Division

Saturday 8th October 2016

Tividale FC 3-1 AFC Wulfrunians

At last – Tividale tame the Wulf’s

Manager Dave King gave debuts to Matt Hunt, Joe Hull and Joe Bates, with Hull and Hunt as the new central defender pairing and Bates up front with Dan Smith

Tividale started the better and were pinning the visitors back with their pressing game. But it was Wulf’s that had the first chance on 8 minutes, when a Kyle Brady effort was comfortably saved by Luke Kriskinans. Tividale hit right back with Nathan Jones hitting a cross that Wulf’s keeper Liam Stanton plucked from the onrushing Dan Smith. Wulf’s Jamie King then went on a run and played the ball into the path of Craig Gregg but again he shot straight at the Tividale keeper after 15 minutes.

Tividale took the lead on 19 minutes and what a great goal it was too. Jacob Wedderburn who had moved to right back from his normal central defensive role, played in a sumptuous ball into the feet of Dan Smith, who with one movement turned his marker and curled a stunner into the top left hand corner.

Tividale now had their heads up but as is always the case, once ahead you are at your most vulnerable and Wulf’s came storming back. Led by Jamie King who on 34 minutes was left with more time than he thought as he dragged his shot wide. Tividale then had a great chance to extend their lead on 40 minutes when Dan Smith led a counter with a first time ball out to Lewis McPike who’s run and cross was met by Bates but Stanton pulled off a brilliant save to deny him.

Wulf’s had the final say of the first half when King again was foiled by Kriskinans when he went through on a ball played over the top and behind the Tividale back line.

Half Time : Tividale FC 1-0 AFC Wulfrunians

Again Tividale started the half, the better and with the defence looking more assured as the game went on, the confidence could be seen just flowing back through the team. On 58 minutes Tividale doubled their lead. Bates again ran at the Wulf’s defence and his shot was parried by Stanton, but the ball fell right into the path of Dan Smith who made no mistake, slamming the ball home on the half volley. Tividale were now playing like a team on top of their game and on 75 minutes they added a third when a McPike shot from about 25 yards crossed the line via the underside of the bar with Stanton well beaten.

Straight from the kick off Wulf’s pulled one back with a neat controlled finish from Brady. Tividale then looked a little shaky but that was really brought on themselves as they continued to try and play the ball out of defence instead of “putting it into row Z” in what was many of the home fans were screaming for. But at the other end they were still looking for goals with Jones cutting in from the left on 79 minutes but his shot was well saved. A minute later it was Dan Smith’s turn to attack the box and even though he was on a hat trick he played the ball into Jones but his shot failed to trouble the keeper.

Deep into injury time the home side had the chance of getting a fourth, when McPike lofted a ball into the Wulf’s penalty area but although substitute Jamie Hunt did well to bring the ball down and under control he could not get his shot off and Stanton was there to collect.

Full Time : Tividale FC 3-1 AFC Wulfrunians

Tividale FC:-1. Luke Kriskinans, 2. Jacob Wedderburn, 3. Darragh Bustin, 4. Joe Hull, 5. Matt Hunt (17. Freddie Watts 63), 6. Craig Stevens, 7. Lewis McPike, 8. Liam Smith, 9. Daniel Smith, 10. Joe Bates (14. Jamie Hunt 70), 11.Nathan Jones.

Subs not used: 12. Jordan Potter, 15. Tom Hurdman, 16. Shane Grainger.

 Click here for match photos from Caz Wells