The Lambs final game of the 2024-25 season brought The Brewers to the Compare The Build Community Stadium for the final of the Birmingham County FA Senior Cup.
Although Tamworth had made the final in 2012-13 and 2000-1 they had finished as runners up to West Bromwich Albion and Moor Green respectively, Tamworth had not lifted the cup since a 6-2 aggregate win over Bilston Town in the 1968-69 season and in 1996-97, the two sides had met in the final, at The Lamb, with the visitors running out 3-1 victors on the night.
Albion fielded a side with a mix of mainly youth with some first team presence which were not to be underestimated as they had done similarly throughout the competition, while Andy Peaks selected a ‘normal’ first team similar to the one that had picked up a point in their final league game of the season at Altrincham on Bank Holiday Monday. The three changes from that side being Jas Singh, back in after a one game suspension, Callum Cockerill-Mollett came in for Luke Fairlamb and Alex Fletcher took the place of Munashe Sundire, one of five subs on the bench.
The Brewers got the game underway with The Lambs attacking the segregated Meadow Street End in the first half.
An early run by McGlinchey saw Ponticelli’s shot charged down and a freekick on the left for the visitors was hooked away by Crompton on 3.
A foul by Metenga on Cockerill-Mollett on 5 on the left corner of the box set up Tonks with the deadball and it rebounded off the wall from the ensuing play it dropped into the area and over Dudek only for the offside flag to deny Creaney finishing the move.
On 13, after sustained Lambs pressure over the preceding minutes, Cockerill-Mollett cross from the left and found the head of Creaney who directed his nod back towards the near post but it dropped a yard or two wide of the mark.
Burton forced their first corner on 15 which Singh took at the second attempt in between a couple of players at the near post and then a Tonks throw from the left which eventually fell to Finn but his shot was charged down.
A slip by Tonks was nearly recovered by the same player as Scott went over the halfway line on 20, but the Albion forward used his pace to get down field and into the box and Singh took his low strike from the left towards the near post.
A cross from Finn found Creaney again on 22 but again the offside flag halted proceedings and when Tonks’ throw from the right was met by the head of Digie on 26 his flick beat everyone but rebounded off the far post, and Ponticelli was unable to turn it home past the covering Brewers defenders.
Another Tonks throw, from the left, on 32 was met by Digie again, but the Burton defence cleared their lines and a clash on the edge of the box left Crompton needing treatment before he could continue.
Hollis was booked for an off the ball challenge on Newall which had been spotted by the linesman on the main stand side and left the number 10 needing a visit from the physio.
Creaney rose high to head McGlinchey’s left sided cross on 40, but was unable to get direction on it to test Dudek.
Earley was booked for a challenge on Ponticelli on the halfway lie on 42 and four minutes added time was shown by the fourth official.
A freekick on the right corner of the box saw Tonks force Dudek to push the ball around the post for a right sided corner, and Digie’s header was hooked away as it dropped goalward and then Crompton sent an inviting cross in for Cockerill-Mollett but he misplaced his header which went into the ground and bounced easily for the keeper.
A rare Burton attack saw Scott slip through the back of the defence and shoot on the angle, but Singh was equal to his goalbound effort and Cockerill-Mollett was involved again but he wasn’t able to squeeze his header home. 

HT: 0-0

The Lambs restarted the game and immediately attacked the Castle End with Crompton’s ball looking for Creaney being flicked behind by Thistleton for a corner which caused problems in a crowded area and Creaney’s follow up was blocked behind for another flag kick which Dudek punched away.
Newall was booked for a double infringement on 49, knocking Ponticelli to the floor and then kicking the ball away, and another attack nearly allowed Ponticelli to set himself up from 8 yards, but as it dropped it was stabbed away.
However, a Tonks throw from the right kept the pressure on as The Brewers played with 10 men in the final third and a six man back line at times, which Tonks managed to get a sight on goal through on 53 but he fired powerfully at Dudek.
From a Tonks throw by the main stand, Ponticelli tried an overhead kick from 12 yards and forced Dudek to push it over the bar for a corner on 61, which had to be taken after the keeper had received treatment for cramp, and he punched it away from danger when it dropped into the danger area.
Then, from a long ball from Fletcher into the area, Creaney cushioned his header past Dudek towards the far post and Ponticelli finished it from close range to give The Lambs a deserved lead (1-0, 64 mins)
There was more goalmouth action as Creaney and Ponticelli went for goal but were unable to find a way past the visiting defence on 69 and Crompton was pushed down by Matthews in the right corner so Finn sent the freekick into the box on 71, and although Creaney got his header to drop over Dudek, the keeper fell into the net with the ball in his hands under pressure from Tonks so the Lambs midfielder was booked.
Finn slammed a volley from 18 yards at the keeper on 73 but Newall was unable to keep the ball down when he found space after a strong run to the edge of the box, and cleared the Meadow Street terrace with his effort on 74.
And on 76 The Lambs doubled their advantage following a powerful move upfield which saw Ponticelli force Dudek to parry his strike and it fell invitingly for Creaney to run on to and fire home from the left of the area to the delight of the home faithful (2-0, 76 mins)
There was no rest of the visitors, as Tonks sent a throw into the box on 79 and from the defensive movement out, Krudally was booked and from the resulting play, Digie rifled it home from 6 yards (3-0, 80 mins)
Williams replace McGlinchey on 81 and Peaks made three more changes on 84 and on 86 it was 4-0 with Creaney slamming home a rebound after a Tonks throw once again to extend the scoreline.
However, Svarc headed home a cross from the right on 88 to reduce the arrears (4-1, 88 mins) and three minutes added time were shown.
Williams headed just off target from a Curley cross from the right as the seconds ticked away to the final whistle and The Lamb celebrated receipt of the silverware from the Birmingham County FA CEO Kevin Shoemake.

Tamworth:
Singh, Cockerill-Mollett, Tonks, Digie (Cullinane-Liburd 84), Fletcher, Finn, Creaney, McGlinchey (Williams 81), Hollis, Crompton (Curley 84), Ponticelli (Sundire 84)
Subs: Phillips
YC: Hollis 38, Tonks 72
RC: (none)

Burton Albion:
Dudek, Bilton, Taroni (c.), Thistleton, Earley (Lay 88), Matthews, Krudally (Everitt 90+2), Wilow, Scott (Svarc 68), Newall, Metenga (Scott 73)
Subs: Tootell
YC: Earley 43, Newall 48, Krudally 78
RC: (none)

Referee: Mr. Robert Massey-Ellis
Assistants: Mr. Edward Smart, Mr. Andrew Ellis
4th Official: Mr. Lewis Smith

Attendance: 1791 (377 from Burton Albion)

Man of the Match: Dan Creaney