Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

DROYLSDEN 1 – 1 TAMWORTH

Blue Square North - Saturday 9 August 2008

Report by Gary Owen

The result was a fair reflection of this rather dour opening day affair, in which neither side played like a team who deserved to win the game.

Tamworth enjoyed the better chances in the first half, and ought to have gone in at the break more than the one goal to the good that they did.

A free kick by Lee Hildritch found Gareth Sheldon in space at the far post, who shot struck the underside of the bar and bounced out. Bradley Pritchard latched on to the rebound, but he snatched his shot wide.

Five minutes later, Hildritch benefited from a missed tackle by Liam Brownhill on Alex Rodman, but Jon Kennedy in the Droylsden goal managed to get a finger-tip to his shot to turn it around the post.

The Bloods fell behind on 27 minutes. Sheldon's shot was saved by Kennedy, but he couldn't hold on and the ball fell to Nick Wright, whose shot struck Kennedy's chest. The ball landed with Liam Brownhill, but he couldn't prevent the ball from running away and crossing the line.

It was the 39th minute before the Bloods recorded their first shot on target. A lung busting 40 yard run from Carl Lamb forced a fine save from Will Puddy.

Ten minutes after the re-start, Droylsden were level. Craig McAughtrie conceded a free-kick, and Cavell Coo played the ball long back into the Tamworth box. Steve Halford rose highest to loop a header beyond the sprawling reach of Puddy.

This spurred on the hosts, and Tamworth correctly survived shouts for handball against McAughtrie. In the same attack, Ashley Burbeary volleyed goalwards, but the ball was cleared off a Tamworth chest, despite further calls for handball.

McAughtire twice went close in the closing stages, although his last effort that struck the bar just after the referee had blown for full time.

TEAMS:

Droylsden (4-3-3)

Kennedy, Coo, Brownhill (Newton, 76'), Dugdale, Halford, Sorvel, Brown (Burbeary, 55'), Pickford, Gedman, Townson, Prince (Lamb, 22'). Unused Subs: Cryan, Ellis

Tamworth (4-2-2)

Puddy, Smith, Langdon, McAughtire, Wylde, Foster, Wright, Hildritch, Sheldon, Rodman (Sheridan, 82'), Pritchard. Unused Subs: Lyttle, Lea, Warburton, Law

Referee: Mr. P. Bramley (Leeds, West Yorkshire)

ATTENDANCE: 414