Tamworth took a break from Enterprise National League action with back to back home cup ties, entertaining Darlaston Town 1874 in their Birmingham Senior Cup 2nd Round tie and would follow it quickly with games against Boston United on Saturday afternoon in the Isuzu FA Trophy and then the return visit of the Manchester United PL2 side in the National League Cup the following Tuesday night.

The Lambs, holders of the cup after home victory over Burton Albion in the final the previous season welcomed Dean Gill’s Northern Premier League Division 1 West side, who found themselves 21st having won three of their 20 league fixtures to date.
While The Lambs had faced a side from Darlaston many times since Tamworth’s first ever competitive game in the 1933-34 season, until their last competitive meeting in 1981, this was the first time The Lambs had met the phoenix ‘1874’ club who (re)formed in 2014.
Andy Peaks made use of his squad for the tie and also included Teo Kurturan who had been announced as leaving (by) Maidstone United on the day of the game, and also welcomed Ben Acquaye back onto a teamsheet for the first time in 2025-26.
The visitors kicked off towards the Castle End but it was The Lambs who had the first half chances with Lynch almost setting Kurtaran up, only for his shot to be blocked, and then Duku glanced a header wide of the mark.
Duku forged another chance on 5 but lifted his shot just over the target from 18 yards and he shot wide again on 7 when Lynch’s incisive pass put him one on one with the advancing keeper.
A long throw from Tonks on 8 caused a few problems and Maher’s low shot was blocked and then Lynch pulled it back for Mols but he skied his effort from 12 yards.
Darlaston keeper Amos needed treatment on 10, bringing the game to a halt for a minute or two, and when play restarted The Lambs continued to press.
Duku was tripped on the right of the box on 14 so Maher lined up the freekick and it was flicked on for Cullinane-Liburd to head home at the far post (1-0, 15 mins)
Play stopped again on 17 when Duku sat down on the halfway line and needed treatment but was OK to continue and Tonks sent a left sided throw into the area on 19 which Amos took at height.
Darlaston threaded the ball down the left and into the box for Collins but his attempted shot was smothered and captain Cook got nearly got the better of Rye down the centre minute later only to be denied by a timely challenge.
A flowing move out of defence starting with a drag back from Maher ended when Cullinane-Liburd found Mols on the edge of the area on 29, but his shot roe over Amos without causing the keeper any problems.
Lynch found Duku on 30 and the strikers’ shot was kicked off his toes for a corner which Maher had two goes at and his second ball in was headed just over by Cullinane-Liburd, from a couple of yards out.
Cullinane-Liburd’s header from a Tonks throw on 33 was headed away as far as Maher and his ball into the box set Duku up with a low shot from the right which forced another flagkick which Mols connected with, but it struck the covering defender.
Kurtaran’s deep cross from the left of midfield was perfect for Cullinane-Liburd to head on 37 but again it dropped over the target and kept The Lambs lead at the solitary early strike.
Another chance fell for Duku on 39 from a lofted pass into the box from Maher, and he connected first time too, but touched it wide of the left hand upright.
The Lambs did double their lead on 44 though, with Rye finishing a Tonks throw from close range which bounced once and fell invitingly for him to sidefoot home from a yard out. (2-0, 44 mins)
One minute added time was shown at the end of the half and Mols sent the ball in for Duku to head back across the box on target but saw it cleared away as the halftime whistle blew.

HT: 2-0
 
The Lambs got the second half underway, attacking the Castle End and Tonks sent an early throw short to Kurtaran who crossed into the area and Amos punched it away with Mols following up from 25 yards, but he put his effort over the goal into the terracing.
Then, on 49, Lynch beat his man, drove into the box and slipped the ball powerfully past the keeper to extend the lead (3-0, 49 mins)
Maher forced a corner on the left which Lynched headed up and over the crossbar from the near post.
Duku then did well to get past his marker to earn a corner off his right footed shot come cross on 55 and Maher’s deadball was headed over the bar by Cullinane-Liburd.
Duku and Kurtaran saw shots blocked in quick succession just past the hour, and Lynch turned his man on the left of the box before cutting in and firing low at Amos on 62.
Darlaston sub Lewis Gill whipped a freekick into the Lambs area and although it was headed away the visitors worked it back to Storey on the right and he tried a shot but couldn’t keep it down.
West had to be on his guard to stop the ball from getting from Maher through to Lynch on 71 and Duku’s centre was cut out by Corns a minute later.
With a few substitutions disrupting play, but also giving both side fresh legs, chances were limited as the minutes ticked into the final 10 and West tried a hopeful effort from 30 yards on 84 but was off target with his direct strike.
Enoru did well to keep the ball in play on 86 and there were half shouts for a penalty as he picked himself up after a tame challenge in the area, but the referee was not swayed.
Space opened for Lissimore on 88 and he struck a right footed drive from 20 yards over the bar by a few feet before the whistle blew for full time to put The Lambs through into Round three and a home tie against Alvechurch to be arranged.

Tamworth
Singh (c.), Cullinane-Liburd, Hollis, Rye (Donkor 53), Curley, Tonks (Lissimore 64), Kurtaran, Maher (Acquaye 73), Mols (Wyatt 80), Duku (Enoru 73), Lynch
Subs: (all used)
YC: (none)
RC: (none)

Darlaston Town 1874
Amos, Storey, Chesterton, Pearson (Gill (Leo) 67), Corns, Allen, Cook (c.) (Corfield 64), West, Knowles, Collins, Rowland (Gill (Lewis) 59)
Subs: Downing, Spragg
YC: (none)
RC: (none)

Referee: Mr. Callum Fisk
Assistants: Mr. Nathan Parry, Mr. Guy Thrower
Fourth Official: Mr. Aaron Ford

Attendance: 201

Man of the Match - Chosen by: Turpins: Stefan Mols