Tamworth welcomed Manchester United’s PL2 side back to the Altair Group Community Stadium to replay the National League Cup fixture that had been abandoned earlier in the season.

All the other Group A games had been completed and the Lambs just needed to avoid a defeat by an eight goal margin to ensure they progressed into the knock out stages in second place ahead of future FA Trophy opponents Rochdale in third, while a draw or win would see them go above Brackley Town, in top spot prior to kick off.

With the visit of Southend United on the horizon (Saturday, 5.30pm, live on DAZN) and the above in mind, Andy Peaks selected a team and bench for the game that would hopefully do what was required while also enabling him to utilise his squad, within the boundaries of the cup rules regarding League game appearances.

United got the game underway attacking the Castle End, but an early Tonks throw from the right forced a corner on the same side which Mols put into the box and United booted it away.
Mols forced another corner, on the left, on 4 and Duku rose highest to head home powerfully down and through the crowded box (1-0, 04 mins)
United’s Armer hit a hopeful strike on 10 from the left channel but was off target by some distance with his effort, and Digie and Hollis combined to deny the run of Fletcher, son of United Legend Darren, before Bianchieri unleashed a right footed shot a whisker past the left hand post with Rachel in full flight.
But United fell further behind when Lynch took a pass out of midfield and made headway into the left of the box before angling his shot under Murdock into the bottom right with just a quarter of an hour on the clock (2-0, 15 mins)
Tonks supplied Curley with an inch perfect pass which saw him turn his marker and provide an inviting cross on 20, but it was headed away from the awaiting Lambs in the Meadow Street end box, and from a Mols freekick on the right on 23 Cullinane-Liburd sent a looping header just over the bar.
Donkor shouldered Bianchieri to the ground on the right of the box on 24 for Fletcher’s freekick which Digie headed away.
A ricochet gave United a corner on the right on 27 which Rachel took at height and released it quickly for Lynch who battled to keep possession and feed Mols, but the latter’s cross was too high for Duku in the middle of the six yard box.
Mols poked the loose ball wide of the mark on 35 after a period of pressure in the final third, but couldn’t get a clear sight on goal and had to think quickly, with the United defence surrounding him, Hollis and Duku.
The visitors enjoyed more of the ball in the Lambs half as the minutes ticked down to half time, but Duku had other ideas and his move up the left resulted in a Tonks throw on 42 whichi came back to Mols but Fletcher stole it off him and Biancheiri was the final recipient before Donkor put in a timely challenge.
One minute added time was shown at the end of the half before the whistle blew.
 
HT: 2-0

The Lambs restarted the game and almost did it with a bang when Duku rifled a powerful half volley just over the bar from 18 yards.
A clash of heads halted proceedings quickly after though and the striker needed treatment before returning to the field, but not before Mols had struck a low right footed shot at Murdock from the edge of the area.
Rachel made his first real save when Sharpe turned a hit a low shot from a similar position at the other end on 50, and made an audacious clearance over his head just outside the box when Fletcher bore down on the Lambs penalty area.
It looked like The Lambs had run into a deadend on the hour, but Cullinane-Liburd and Mols combined with the latter drilling his low ball into the near post and it popped up for lynch but was hooked away from him as he stooped to head home and United survived conceding a third.
With the mist rolling in and ‘being added to’ by the visible exhalations of the players, both sides made changes with Obi threaded the ball through the Lambs back line on 71, but Rachel was quick to smother it before a United teammate could react.
Cullinane-Liburd headed Mantato’s cross away from the head of Obi on 72 but The Lambs made it three on 73 when Lynch won the ball in the right of the box and squared it for Enoru to fire home from 12 yards (3-0, 73 mins).
The scorer turned provider on 78 but Lynch glanced his near post header over the bar from close range and a Tonks throw came out to Acquaye on 80 who hit his shot first time, but it was straight at Murdock.
While visibility on the pitch was good enough, the lights reflecting off the dropping fog made it difficult to see the opposite corners from the terraces, as the game headed towards the end of the group stages.
Rachel did well to dive to his left to stop a curling diagonal shot from Blanco on 83 and Obi fired low from distance to the left of the far post, but only by a few yards.
On 86, Obi tried again and was on target from 18 yards, but found Rachel well positioned to take his strike and Manatato rifled his shot from the right of the box into the side netting a couple of minutes later.
One minute added time was shown and Jasper forced a corner on the right which was taken before the whistle blew on a third cup victory in a row for The Lambs.

Tamworth
Rachel; Curley, Digie, Hollis (c.), Cullinane-Liburd, Donkor (Jasper 83); Tonks (Sayer 83), Lissimore (Enoru 65); Mols (Acquaye 74), Lynch; Duku (Wyatt 65)
Subs: Phillips, Brown
YC: (none)
RC: (none)

Manchester United PL2
Murdock, Helafu (Kamason 73), Armer, Kukonki (Scnalon HT), Blanco, Devaney (c.), Sharpe (Mantato 62), Kone, Bianchieri (Obi 62), Fletcher, Mather
Subs: Byrne-Hughes, Plunkett
YC: (none)
RC: (none)

Referee: Mr. Kavan Hurn
Assistants: Mr. James Tewson, Mr. Harley McKittrick
Fourth Official: Mr. Harley Hetherington

Attendance: 1022 (198 from Manchester United)