Much Changed Side Win In Cup
You can never be quite sure what the Birmingham Senior Cup games will give you. For teams like Tamworth, it is usually a chance to give your fringe players a run out, while for smaller teams, it s a chance to go on a decent cup run, and win some silverware. This year, Marcus Law has said he wants to do well in the competition, so tonight’s match against Midland Alliance side Boldmere St Michaels would be interesting to see what type of team the Tamworth boss was going to put out.
Looking at the team sheet, there were a few surprises. Iyseden Christie started in defence, partnering Francino Francis at centre back. As well as this, there were a number of changes throughout the team, with some squad players making their debut for Tamworth, who were playing in last season’s home shirt for reasons unknown. Joe Collister in goal; Luke Bottimer at right back; Curtis Shaw, a new signing from Carlton in central midfield along with Lee Weemes and Evanglino Valentim up front all made their first appearances for The lambs, in front of a very measly home crowd of just 156.
Boldmere made a good account of themselves in the first half, closing down Tamworth the best they could, limiting the chances for the Tamworth strikers to make any real chances, so much so there was very little to talk about from the first half from a Tamworth perspective. The only real talking point was on nine minutes when Kyle Patterson must have had a repeat of the injury that cut his game short against York on Saturday, and was replaced by academy player Luke Shearer. Despite good effort from the substitute and some good movement by Lee Weemes, the two sides went in at nil nil at half time.
Boldmere came out with the same game plan they had in the first half, but Tamworth by now has managed to find a little rhythm, with a few half chances coming the way of Evangilino Valentim, but the Portuguese striker was unable to make anything of them. That was until Boldmere keeper Seen Butler made an unfortunate blunder and spilled the ball to Valentim from a tame Shearer effort, who made no mistake in putting the ball away for his first goal for his new side. Luke Shearer continued to work hard in the second half and had another good effort from just outside the area saved well saved by Butler. Boldmere did try and get themselves back into the game, but were unable to get the ball past Collister, although they did manage to strike an effort just wide of the goal towards the end of the game. In the end though, Marcus Law’s side hung on to the victory to progress to the next round.
Tamworth certainly didn’t raise any eyebrows with this victory, Boldmere battled well and gave it a go, but Tamworth got the job done without any fuss, and although the game was pretty drab in most parts, these games are never the most fluid of games and are normally a bit stop/start. It good to see some of the academy side get a run out, and they too would have given themselves a good account of themselves.
Man of the Match: Luke shearer, the youngest came on early in the game and coped well, he worked very hard and put himself about, a solid match for the youngster.
Tamworth Team: Joe Collister, Luke Bottomer, Sam Habergham, Iyseden Christie, Francino Francis, Curtis Shaw, Ashley Cain, Lee Weemes (Healey77 ), Liam McDonald Evangilino Valentim, Kyle Patterson (Luke Shearer 9)
Subs not used: Rico Taylor, Harrison White, James Wilcox
Boldmere St. Michaels Team: Sean Butler, Lyndon Weller, Jamie Petty, Levi Bailey, Tom Stevenson, Andrew Lewis, Simeon Tulloch (Sam Pekun 79), Joseph Smith, Tom Overfield, Tom Law (Stuart Capaldi 75),Kirk Smith
Subs not used: Chris Gibson, Neil Watkins, Ben Usher
Picture Source: pitchero.com/clubs/suttoncoldfieldtownfc 13.9.11
