The Lambs welcomed The Tigers to the Altair Group Community Stadium for their first foray in the FA Cup since last seasons’ heroics, and the memorable visit of Tottenham Hotspur to the town in front of the TV cameras will live long in the memory.
The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round tie pitted Andy Peaks’ Enterprise National League side against Martin Coyne’s midtable Northern Premier League side, two steps below in the non league pyramid who had already come through three Qualifying Rounds to set up the match.

With the potential prize of a game against one of the 48 EFL 1&2 clubs for the winners of the match it was a classic case of a possible giant killing / banana skin for The Lambs ahead of kick off and one that the home faithful would be hoping Tamworth would successfully avoid.

The visitors kicked off the game towards the Castle End but The Lambs went on the attack immediately and Mersin had to take a header on target away from Ponticelli at height inside the first minute.
Enoru was upended on the Lambs left with less than 2 minutes on the clock forcing Hyde to defend Milnes’ deadball and the same player was knocked off balance soon after so Milnes loaded his freekick again but it went long and out.
Maher struck from the right channel on 5 but his shot rose over the target as Tamworth kept United back in their own half without really testing Mersin.
Milnes low strike was easy for the keeper to take on 9, as he dropped to block it, and Hyde countered with a corner which came out to McMahon and his powerful shot took a deflection for another corner on the opposite side which forced Tamworth to be on their guard.
Ponticelli was brought down by Fearnly on the right, earning his a booking, and Maher sent the deadball into the area but Hyde we able to deal with it.
Maher then found space to fire low from 18 yards, however his 18th minute shot was parried and smothered by Mersin.
A quick break by The Lambs ended with Lynch unable to poke the ball past the keeper on 20, and Hyde took the opportunity to push to the other end with captain Redshaw angling a shot from the left out past the far post.
Ponticelli got on the end of a Riley looped pass on 21 but couldn’t take it down and shoot before going wide of the mark and forced a corner instead which Milnes sent in, but Pratt dealt with.
Enoru and Maher combined on 25 to advance out of midfield towards the Meadow Street goal, but the final ball was cut out by Mersin and Enoru needed treatment before returning to play from the touchline.
A corner from the right was hooked back into the box by Ponticelli on 30, but Lynch was unable to get his head to it before the visiting defence cleared their lines, then Lynch took the ball down the left cut back past his marker and forced Mersin to push his goalbound effort away.
Redshaw dragged a shot from 25 yards wide of the left hand upright on 34 in a rare but potentially dangerous attack by the visitors and Makoli went closer on 39 with a rasping right footed effort which went wide of the right hand post by a couple of yards.
Makoli made a nuisance of himself again on 44 making it seem like the ball was stuck to his boots as he jinked in the box and dragged it back towards the right hand upright where Singh grateful gathered it at the second attempt.
Two minutes added time were shown as a visitors attack ended with a misplaced header, and at the other end Enoru did all the hard work to get the ball into the area and past his marker but slotted it just wide of the far post with Mersin flat footed ahead of him.

HT: 0-0
 
Tamworth restarted the game kicking towards the Castle End with the sun dropping in front of them and an early throw from Riley from the left had to be cleared away when Lynch diverted it goalward, for a corner on the right but it was took long for Digie to keep in play.
Makoli was sent to the ground by Digie on 49, earning the Lambs defender a booking, and Kershaw bent his freekick around the wall but it was easy for Singh to take.
Rawthorn then spotted an opening and hit a right footed shot from the left channel on 55, only to watch it go a yard to wide of the left hand post into the side netting in front of the vociferous travelling supporters.
Maher was upended by Thompson on the right on 57 and took the freekick himself which Milnes flicked on before seeing it turned behind for a corner which came to nothing when Digie was adjudged to have fouled in the box.
Lloyd put the ball behind for another Lambs corner off the toes of Maher on 62 but a foul on the keeper from the flagkick halted play again.
However in the next move Milnes headed home from 12 yards, cushioning Fairlamb’s inch perfect cross from the left past Mersin to the delight of the home crowd. (1-0, 63 mins)
The resumption of play was delayed while Thompson received treatment for a head injury on the pitch and he was unable to continue as both sides made a change.
Riley weaved his way through the Hyde back line on 70 but angled his shot from the left of the box out past the far post and Ponticelli’s low shot from a similar position on 75 didn’t trouble Mersin.
Duku broke into the box from a Milnes through ball and found Maher with his cut back who had the goal at his mercy on 76 but he was unable to keep his shot down when it looked odds on he would double The Lambs advantage, and from a corner on 80 Duku rose highest but directed his effort over the bar.
With Maher prostrate on the ground following a challenge on the halfway line on 81, Tamworth broke forwards with Enoru skipping past his marker before driving a shot towards goal, but it was blocked for another corner which came to nothing.
A long throw from substitute Tonks forced Hyde to defend on 84 and The Lambs was to do similarly when the visitors forced a corner on the left on 89 which Singh gathered at height.
One time Lamb Bell came on for Hyde on 89 before Enoru threaded the ball through to Duku in eth area only for Mersin to deny him with a brave save at his feet.
Eight minutes added time was shown at the end of the second half and Enoru was sent to the ground with a hefty elbow in the area but no penalty was awarded on 91 and after a nailbiting end to the game which saw the visitors press The Lambs back, the final whistle finally blew with Tamworth in the hat for the draw on Monday evening.

Tamworth
Singh; Fairlamb, Digie, Hollis, Donkor; Enoru, Milnes (Tonks 77), Riley, Maher (Sayer 82); Ponticelli (Mols 77), Lynch (Duku 66)
Subs: Phillips, Curley, Cullinane-Liburd
YC: Digie 49
RC: (none)

Hyde United
Mersin, Lloyd, Thompson (Frost 68), Kershaw, McMahon, Hall, Pratt, Fearnley (Dunwoody 82), Rawsthorn, Redshaw (c.) (Bell 89), Makoli
Subs: Jones-Griffiths, Dyson, Shaw
YC: Fearnley 10, Lloyd 82
RC: (none)

Referee: Mr. Richard Holmes
Assistants: Mr. Alan Hull, Mr. Simon Robinson
Fourth Official: Mr. Callum Fisk
Attendance: 1571 (235 from Hyde)
Man of the Match: Chosen by Laguna Properties: Luke Fairlamb