Andy Peaks’ squad welcomed former Lamb Dave Hibbert’s U21s for their next pre-season workout while the England Women’s side faced Italy in their Euro’s 25 Semi Final.

The visitors kicked off towards the Castle End, but The Lambs won possession quickly and Sayer was brought down on the right for an early freekick and he whipped it into the corridor of doubt for Cullinane-Liburd to turn it home on route to goal from close range (1-0, 2 mins)
Mols broke through the left of the box to drill the ball into the danger area on 5 and saw his dangerous ball cleared in front of the keeper and the Lambs trialist attacker was pulled back for a freekick on the left on 10, which Milnes planted on the head of Digie, but his direct nod went over the target.
Stoke’s Bickerton then got the better of The Lambs in the box on the left on 12 and fired a low angled shot inside the far post past Phillips to level the tie (1-1, 12 mins)
The Lambs responded with Mols shooting low from the left a yard wide of the post on 15 before Bickerton looked for his second, forcing Phillips to protect his goal with a long range drive which the keeper parried.
Tamworth regained the lead on 24 though, through an ‘unlikely’ source as after a flowing move from the right to Mols on the left he lifted the resulting cross over the keeper and into the left hand corner (2-1. 24 mins)
But the lead didn’t last for long as Willox got onto the end of an incisive chip into the right of the area and he cushioned it over Phillips who had no choice but to advance to towards him and try and reduce his angles (2-2, 27 mins)
The players took a drinks break while Clothier received treatment for cramp on 31 and on 36 Wyatt nearly put The Lambs back in front from a Sayer cross from the right. His cross found his teammate in the box but who got his head to it, but watched agonisingly as it floated past the far post and out.
Cockerill-Mollett forced a corner on the left off the covering Potters defence on 39 and Digie rose high at the far post to power a header down, on target, only to be denied by Clothier’s low stop.
A 45th minute corner taken by Milnes on the left which caused problems, but Cullinane-Liburd was unable to keep it in play, and one minute added time was shown.

HT: 2-2

Tamworth restarted the game and from a Sayer cross on 47 Cullinane-Liburd went close with a header back across the box which skipped out just past the post.
City’s Curley sent a long range left footed strike over the bar on 50 and on 56 Cockerill-Mollett found himself on the edge of the box with the ball at his feet and struck low but it went out past the far post.
Wyatt then received the ball on the edge of the box and fired just over the bar with a well take shot on the turn, and Phillips was called into action on 59 to deny Potter Curley’s low shot through a crowded area from sneaking in at his left hand post with a low push away.
City forced three corners from the right in quick succession on 61 before The Lambs made 6 changes on 63.
Ponticelli and Duku both brought pace to the attack and both struck for goal with the former firing at the keeper, and the latter firing a half volley wide.
A fine cross field ball to McGlinchey released the midfielder on 74 and he found Bates in the box but he was unable to direct it on target.
Cockerill-Mollett had taken a knock earlier in the half, but having played all of his subs, Peaks was unable to swap him (for Curley) so The Lambs had to finish the game with ten men, forcing Sayer into the left back position for the remainder.
Duku and Ponticelli linked well on 80 but the final ball was cut out for a Tonks throw from the clubhouse with allowed Tamworth to keep some pressure on before Clothier smothered the loose ball.
A searching low right sided cross from Ponticelli was put behind past the far post for a Tonks corner on 83 and the Lambs trialist right back held strong to deny City’s 15 from making headway shortly after before the Stoke keeper went down with cramp again.
Despite the numerical disadvantage Tamworth retain possession well, and a cross for Duku saw him head off target on 87.
Duku then turned provider for Ponticelli and he connected with the ball inside the area but there was a defender in the way to block his goalbound effort.
A Tonks throw caused the keeper to drop the ball on 90, and it was cleared for Tonks to try again and this time Digie got his head to it and he directed it down into the Castle End goal to give The Lambs the win (3-2, 90 mins)

Tamworth:
Phillips, Curley (trialist 63), Cullinane-Liburd, Digie, Cockerill-Mollett, Milnes (c.) (Tonks 63), Riley (Bates 63), Wyatt (McGlinchey 63), Sayer, Mols (Ponticelli 63), Trialist (Duku 63)
Subs: Singh

Stoke City U21s:
Clothier, Powell (14, 63), Bickerton (17, 88), Kingdon, Mears, Kelly, Willox (15, HT), Enabulele (16, 70), Bailey, Curley, Chibueze (12, 62)
Subs (numbers not known): Annas, Cooper, Phillips, Nzau, Cooney, Oppong

Referee: Mr. Jason Porter
Assistants: Mr. Luke Bowles, Mr. Keiran Forrest
4th Official: Mr. Ben Cooke

Attendance: 304