SOLID PERFORMANCE

Hednesford Town v Tividale 0-2

Saturday 21st March

The pitch was small and the wind was strong, but the surface was flat and good for our passing game. Ashley won the toss and gave the hosts the kick off so we could kick with the wind first half.

The first real chance fell to Hednesford after 3 minutes when their player sent a decent effort wide of the target. On 5 minutes Tividale created their first chance when Jack Mills found himself through on goal but the Hednesford keeper did well to bravely gather at his feet.

Kyle Edwards was next to test the Hednesford keeper when he shot from a tight angle but the keeper was up to the task and he saved comfortably.

Two minutes later Hednesford went close with an almost identical chance to Kyle’s but their player fired the ball just wide of the post.

The first 20 minutes had been very even but it was the visitors that ended the half stronger; on 20 minutes a great through ball from Josh Marsden played in Kobe Stewart but the keeper saved well.

On 27 minutes good pressure from Alex Johnson, on the Hednesford keeper, caused a mix up at the back and the ball found its way to Tom Edwards out wide on the Tividale right, with the goal open Tom tried his luck from distance but his fantastic effort just missed the target from a very tight angle. Just a minute later Tom had another effort sail over the bar and on 29 minutes a free kick from Kyle just misses Ashley who was arriving at the back post as Tividale started to heap the pressure on Hednesford. With the last kick of the half Kobe had another good attempt saved and that was half time.

 HT – Hednesford Town 0 – 0 Tividale

After a good first period Tividale were almost caught cold from the kick off and they should have gone 1-0 down if not for an outstanding save from Shane Willetts.

Tividale then went back on the attack and Alex Johnson, in particular, was causing havoc down the left side and on 35 minutes he forced a corner after an outstanding solo run. On 36 minutes a poor clearance from the Hednesford defence was headed by Jack to Alex who fired wide.

On 40 minutes the deadlock was broken; a great throw in by Spencer Elcock from the right, inside our own half, found Harry Beasley who’s neat turn and pass found Alex out wide left, Alex burned passed a couple of Hednesford defenders before beating the keeper to give Tividale a deserved lead.

On 44 minutes another strong run from Alex was thwarted by the excellent Hednesford keeper who did well to save at his feet. On 51 minutes, the solid, Elliot Farley played a great ball from the back to Tom who quickly passed it in to Jack, who forced an excellent save for a corner and on 51 minutes Josh played in Kobe who, again, was unfortunate to see his strike saved for a corner as Tividale pushed for the goal that would kill the game.

Hednesford were very combative and were doing their best to get back in the game but the Tividale defence of James Allen, Elliot and Ashley were on top. In the dying seconds Jack Mills found himself through on goal but was bought down in the box for a penalty. Jack got up and dusted himself off before calmly slotting the ball home to put the game to bed.

 FT – Hednesford Town 0 – 2 Tividale