Law Shows Mills Who’s Boss
Another former manager and his assistant made a return to The Lamb today, this time in the shape of Gary Mills and Darren Gee, who left for a second time last season before the whole Des Lyttle debacle began.
Almost a year on from his departure to York City when Gary Mills had guided Tamworth to within a win of first place in the fledgling Blue Square Premier table the former Nottingham Forest defender was back
with his new side hoping to avoid the same fate Mark Cooper had with Darlington a few weeks back.
To start the day off, there was another supporter’s game, Tamworth supporters took on FC Halifax supporters at Bolehall Swift’s Rene Road ground. The game was in no way a success for the Tamworth side, as we lost a massive 10-0, despite keeping the score down to just 1-0 at half time. Even though I said during pre season that I wouldn’t return to Bolehall anytime soon for the way they conducted themselves at the preseason friendly, I found myself returning to play there rather than watch. We were honoured enough to use the changing rooms that the Bolehall superstars use, and to play on the pitch that they are going to turn so many teams over this season on [oh to have money]. The pitch is strangely square shaped, wide but not too long, and wasn’t kept all that well, although with the state of The Lamb’s pitch sometimes, we really aren’t one to criticise. Starting on the bench, I managed to get on early on at left back, and although I made a few mistakes, no goals came from any fault of mine, so I’ll take that as a decent performance. Coming off just before half time, I got to round the game off by coming on at right back (Mr. versatile) for the last 10 minutes. After the game, we were ‘treated’ with a post match meal of curry rice and chips, it was, to be polite mediocre at best, but was just what I needed after killing myself out on the pitch earlier. I now also have an extra reason to hate Bolehall; constant generic sexually degrading comments aimed at my girlfriend from the chairman and one of his resident cretins made me and my girlfriend feel very uncomfortable and is just an extra reason to not go down there anytime soon. I hate Bolehall.
So, to the actual Tamworth game. As was probably expected, Marcus Law made changes after Sunday’s defeat to Hayes and Yeading United. The back four remained the same, but Nabil Shairff and Danny Mills came in on either wing to replace Ashley Cain and Danny Thomas. Upfront, Iyseden Christie was replaced by Kyle Patterson, who continued to suffer a goal drought. The first half was pretty dull, not a lot really happened with neither team really able to create anything special. York probably came the closest however when Jason Walker played a weighted ball into the far post for Jon Challinor, who somehow managed to poke the ball into the side netting, the goalmouth begging after Jonathan Hedge was beaten. Tamworth did have a good chance though; when Danny Mills shot wide from close range, but the two sides went in unsurprisingly at nil nil. Danny Thomas came on midway through the second half to replace Kyle Patterson who seemed to be hobbling a little, and if it does turn out that he is carrying an injury, his season will suffer a setback, especially having still not found the back of the net for his new side yet.
Tamworth started the second half brightly, Marcus Law managed to give his team the lift they needed at the break, as Tamworth came out the second half pressing right from the off. It wasn’t long before they got the breakthrough they were after, just after the 50 minute mark, former Tamworth skipper Chris smith pulled Kieron St Aimie down in the box to give away a penalty, St Aimie brushed himself down and just about managed to put the ball past Michael Ingham to make it one nil to the home side. York tried pegging Tamworth back quickly, but Nabil Shairff on the right wing was proving to be a thorn in the side of the Minstermen, full of running and dangerous balls into the box. York were very much on the back foot after conceding the goal, but they did themselves no favours to by conceding another penalty on 72 minutes, Chris Smith again committing the foul, this time on Danny Thomas. After convincing St Aimie to step away, substitute Iyseden Christie stepped up to make it two nil, smashing the ball into the roof of the net, leaving York with a lot to do in the last 20 minutes. York stepped it up a gear after going two goals down, pressing the Lambs hard, but Tamworth were able to break with Daniel Bradley who ran the ball from his own half before miss-controlling the ball under pressure, allowing Ingham to mop up the dangers and clear. Mills’ side managed to get a goal back through Jason Walker, who headed a cross from Ashley Chambers past Hedge to set up a tense finish, with fears of a repeat of AFC Telford looming. Luckily, Tamworth managed to hang on to the lead and see the game out as winners, but not without a great save from Hedge, who saved a fizzing shot from Patrick Mclaughlin (and undoubtedly the three points for Tamworth) pushing the powerful shot over the bar for a corner, but with virtually no time left, York were unable to make any real threat as the referee pretty much blew for full time as soon as the ball was put in.
Beating York was just the remedy needed for Law’s men after a disappointing result against Hayes and Yeading, because after also shipping two goals against AFC Telford when they seemed to be comofortable winners, a young side like Tamworth could start to suffer from lack of confidence, so this result would have gave the team a great lift. On top of that, it is pleasing to see that even by changing the team around, Marcus Law is still able to find wins, meaning that this season, for once we wont have to rely on the same players week in week out. I am however, still not convinced by Sam Habergham, he still seems a little nervous and is easily taken out of the game by defenders, while Kieron St Aimie is certainly going the right way about winning me over, another goal today from the former Thurrock man will do his confidence the world of good.
Man of the match today for me was Nabil Shairff. He worked extremely hard down the wing, and was always hungry to get forward. The only downside to his game today was that sometimes he was guilty of ball hogging, but that could be down to his nature as a centre forward to get goals. Next up for Tamworth are Boldmere St Michaels in the Birmingham Senior Cup, a trophy which Law has openly said he wants to do well in, which makes a change because normally teams at this level use the competition to field their youth and fringe players. It will be interesting to see what team the manager puts out for the game though, because although he wants to go far in the trophy it is a risk to play the full first team in a trophy that offers very little reward.
Tamworth Team: Jonathan Hedge, Richard Tait, Sam Habergham, Francino Francis, Paul Green, Nabil Shairff (Ashley Cain 83), Danny Mills (Iyseden Christie 68), Daniel Bradley, Jay Smith, Kieron St. Aimie, Kyle Patterson (Danny Thomas 28)
Subs not used: Evangilino Valentim, Joe Collister
York City Team: Michael Ingham, Lanre Oyebanjo, James Meredith, Chris Smith, David McGurk, Scott Kerr, Jason Walker, Ashley Chambers, Matty Blair (Patrick McLaughlin 54), Adriano Moke (Jamie Reed HT), Jon Challinor (LiamHenderson 66)
Subs not used: Daniel Parslow, Andre Boucard
Picture Source: yorkcityfootballclub.co.uk 10.9.11
