Manager Andy Peaks was pleased to add a third consecutive victory and clean sheet to the record as Tamworth beat Leeds United U21s 1-0 at the H.D. Ricketts Community Stadium.

Despite naming a rotated side for the National League Cup, Andy Peaks kept a handful of players in the squad after the win over Hartlepool at the weekend. Olly Dyson struck a clean volley that flew past Robert Cook into the top corner to seal three points for the Lambs.

Peaks said: “Really pleased, for us it was about keeping the run going.

“We’ve had a bit momentum the last week to ten days. We wanted the group to stick together, be hard to beat, and all the things we’ve been the last couple of games. We changed it round a little bit, included some youngsters as well, but overall it was a really good performance.

“A clean sheet is massive, that’s three on the bounce. For a group thing, it’s about keeping the run going, keeping the good habits going, sticking together as a group and finding a way to win in a really good competition.”

Discussing Dyson’s goal, Peaks said: “He’s one of the ones who has really stepped up the last couple of weeks. I thought he was excellent again tonight, as a lot of the boys were. We had enough chances to win a lot of games, but it was unbelievable strike that eventually won us the game and I think that was worthy of winning any fixture.”

Academy director Tim Dudding was pleased to get four Tamworth youth players into the starting lineup on Tuesday night as the Lambs beat Leeds United U21s at the H.D. Ricketts Community Stadium.

Olly Dyson’s volley just before the break was the difference between the two sides as the Lambs edged a tight contest.

He said: “It’s class.

“The gaffer eluded to how good this competition is, and it’s even better when it allows you to get younger lads onto the pitch and show our pathway to the first team. The boys worked really hard to have the opportunity, and I think the lads that have come onto the pitch have worked really hard.

“CJ [Nyakuhwa] showed some acute, clever defending at times. Jasp [Adam Jasper] worked really hard in midfield to stop them playing out. Tay when he’s come on has run round like a battering ram and done a phenomenal job in keeping the ball high up the pitch.

He continued: “One of the good things about our U23s is they’re full time here, they’re full time scholars, but they’re also out on loan in the non-league system between Steps 3 and 5.

That’s really important that they’re learning the difficult side of the game. They’re learning the hard bits of the game that we can’t produce in the academy, but when they come onto a night like this, for them to playing against Premier League academy is just the stuff of dreams.”