Tamworth 1 – 1 Wealdstone

Digie heads home his second in two after former Lamb Tshikuna gave the visitors the leadAfter rising to the dizzying but justified heights of the play off places after the 1-0 win over Yeovil Town on Saturday, Andy Peaks’ Lambs welcomed Sam Cox’s ‘Stones to the Altair Group Community Stadium.

Tuesday night results had pushed Tamworth down from 7th to 10th with 16 points, but a win over their 11th visitors could put them back up as high as 5th in the Enterprise National League table.

With Jas Singh making his 300th appearance in goal for The Lambs, Peaks made no changes to the side that defeated the Glovers as they went in search of another three points against a side that contained former Lamb, Nathan Tshikuna.

The visitors got the game underway with Tamworth attacking the Meadow Street End in the first half but play stopped quickly when Tonks was caught in the face on the halfway line and needed treatment.The first real chance of the game came on 5 when Obiero flashed a shot from the right over the target via a slight deflection for a corner on the right, which came to nothing.

Another Wealdstone corner came on 10 when Duku headed away from danger and Singh punched it away. Play quickly moved up the right wing but Enoru was brought down on the halfway line so Singh launched it upfield and was then called upon to deny Obiero with an outstretched boot when it looked odds on he would slot home after getting the better of Fairlamb.With The Lambs attacking on 20, play was stopped when Massey went down on the edge of the area clearly in some pain, and he had to be helped from the field, limping, before being replaced.

The ‘stones continued to give The Lambs no time on the ball, disrupting the midfield play and on 26 a foul by the home dugout saw a visitors freekick only half cleared with Chinedu lofting a pass into the box for Diarra to head straight at Singh from a few yards out.At the other end Enoru blocked Baptiste’s clearance from a back pass and it cannoned back toward goal but was always well wide of the mark and the keeper breathed a sigh of relief.

Woodman was booked for raising his arms into the face of Riley on 29 and a handball against Boldewijn from the freekick on the edge of the box set up Duku with the deadball which he curled agonisingly wide of the left hand upright.When Roberts was sent tumbling by Tiensia on the halfway line on 31, Riley sent the freekick up but Duku’s header was dealt with by Boldewijn.

From a right sided Lambs corner on 37 Duku rose high and nodded it down on target but Baptiste smothered the goalbound header and when Duku got the ball back in the next move the keeper came rushing out and the Lambs striker tried to play it into space for ‘any’ teammate but the chance was cut out.

From sustained Lambs pressure a corner on the right kept Wealdstone back until a hefty clearance sent the ball downfield, and Tonks was booked after Fairlamb had seen it go out of play at the other end.A first Tonks throw came on 43 which Baptiste took at height and three minutes added time was shown as Wealdstone took a corner on the right which went over everyone and out for a goal kick past the far post before the whistle blew.

HT: 0-0

The Lambs kicked off and after a few passes around the midfield Tonks spotted Baptiste off his line and tried a lob, which was on target but the keeper was able to jump and push it away, with two hands above his head, from embarrassment.

When the ball came out to Bates, 30 yards from goal, on 48, he smashed a right footed half volley which was off target but signalled intention, however after a period of retained possession Wealdstone pushed up for a corner by the Cross Street entrance and Enoru was penalised for a foul outside the box.Georgiou struck the wall and Kadji’s follow up was low and driven, but failed to test Singh as he dragged it well wide of the mark.

The visitors continued to press and when Tshikuna got the better of Fairlamb in the right channel on 55 he unleashed an unstoppable right footed drive to open the scoring (0-1, 55 mins).

The Lambs got back on level terms in fine fashion on 62 though, when Roberts crossed from the right with Digie rising highest to direct his header from 8 yards into the far corner over the outstretched hand of Baptiste (1-1, 64 mins)

Milnes replaced Riley on 65 and on 66 Tonks sent a throw from the clubhouse side into the box which Digie nodded towards goal and Hollis helped it on, but also against the bar.Milnes and Omedu slid into the hoardings and were made to take a break as the referee indicated they had both took a glance to their heads in the process, and when play restarted Enoru cut into the box but fired off target.

Duku connected with a deep cross from the right at the far post but saw his shot off the floor deflected into the side netting for a corner on 75 and it was his final action of the game, with Lynch replacing him shortly after.

Another run into the area by Enoru saw him grounded as he shaped to shoot on 77, but the referee was not swayed to give a penalty in his favour.

Baptiste then had to punch a Tonks throw away from under the bar for a corner, while being clattered by his own defender and good work from Roberts to keep the ball ended when he was brought down for a freekick on the right of the area.

Milnes set up the deadball and whipped it into the area and it came off Olomola and sliced across the box for a corner, which was put behind for three more in quick succession as Wealdstone defended strongly.

The Lambs made two changes as the clocked ticked towards 90, but in the next minute Adarkwa connected to the right of Singh’s goal and his touch took it out just past the far post.

Five minutes added time was shown and a foul on Donkor allowed Milnes to put the ball into the box but it was too high for Hollis and Lynch was unable to get a clean touch before the defence did their job.

There was just time for a last minute flagick on the left for Milnes but it was cleared and the whistle blew.

TamworthSingh (c.); Fairlamb, Digie, Hollis, Donker; Tonks (Mols 89), Bates; Enoru, Riley (Milnes 65), Roberts; Duku (Lynch 76)Subs: Rye, Mols, McGlinchey, Sayer, Lynch, Cullinane-LiburdYC: Tonks 41, Riley 64RC: (none)

WealdstoneBaptiste, Georgiou, Woodman, Boldewijn, Kretshmar (Ololoma 69), Obiero (Adarkwa 81), Chinedu, Diarra, Tshikuna (Hutchinson 69), Massey (Kadji 22), TiensiaSubs: Hassan, McAvoyYC: Woodman 29, Obiero 78RC: (none)

Referee: Mr. Declan BrownAssistants: Mr. Steven Plane, Mr. Kevin MorrisFourth Official: Mr. Jordan Brooks

Attendance: 845 (50 from Wealdstone)

Man of the Match: Chosen by Altair Group: Luke Fairlamb