ON a gloriously sunny Thursday evening, Andy Peaks’ Lambs signed off their 2025-26 campaign with a trip to Walsall FC’s Bescot Stadium to defend the Birmingham County FA Senior Cup title as Tamworth lined up against Scott Easterlow’s Leamington side who had been relegated from the National League North at the end of March after a disappointing season for The Brakes.
The Lambs, in red and black, got the game underway, attacking the two tiered end of the stadium, and faced former Lamb Joe Clarke at the back in the oppositions all blue kit.

A foul by Mols on the Leamington left on Farmer on 3 gave them a freekick and it was half cleared to Clarke, who struck left footed but his rising shot struck the fascia of the high roof of the stand behind Singh.
The game started to flow around the 10 minute mark, as both sides got used to the size of the pitch, and their surroundings, and the noise coming from the fans of both sides, although neither keeper had been tested, defences had been on high alert until, on 12, Creaney touched it on for Lynch who pulled it back for Acquaye and he rifled a shot at Brearey from 18 yards which the keeper caught at head height, at the second attempt.
The Lambs thought they had taken the lead in the next move when an incisive ball from Kurtaran to Mols saw the latter drill it across the box from the right for Lynch and he finished it at the far post, but the offside flag denied him.
Leamington did get their noses in from on 16 though, Lewthwaite connecting with a placed pass from Farmer on the left wing into the box to plant it past Singh from 18 yards to the delight of the Brakes fans. (1-0, 16 mins)
Streete’s late challenge on Lynch set up Kurtaran 30 yards out with a freekick on 18 and Creaney connected in the box, but his header went over the target.
Creaney directed another header, from a deep Curley cross on 22, on target but it was easy for Brearey and The Lambs had to defend when Williams broke free from midfield in the ensuing play, but was unable to turn his advance into a concrete attack.
It was all square on 27, with Lynch adding another to take his season’s tally to 18, chasing the ball into the right channel before lifting it over the advancing keeper and in off the far post to allow The Lambs fans to celebrate the equaliser (1-1, 27 mins)
Soon after the restart Fairlamb went down following a seemingly innocuous clash with Berridge, which left the Leamington player also needing treatment on the field and both recovered sufficiently to return to the play soon after.
Lynch forced the first corner of the game on 30, after his run down the left was curtailed, and Kurtaran sent it in to the near post for Fairlamb but his header was cleared out to Milnes and the return ball was taken off the head of Digie by Brearey.
There were chances at both ends soon after. Cullinane-Liburd was called upon to throw his body in the way of two goal bound efforts, first from Farmer and then from Williams after Edwards had beaten his marker to pull the ball back from the byline and it rebounded kindly for a follow up strike, and Tamworth responded with Lynch cutting in from the right before firing low but wide of the left hand post.
Milnes low cross on 35 was put behind for a corner on the right, which Digie got his head to and glanced at Breaery.
A snap shot from Kurtaran from 30 yards on 39 wasn’t that far away from the top left corner, but ultimately didn’t threaten the Brakes’ goal, and Creaney turned in the box but his shot was blocked by Clarke’s close marking on 40.
Tamworth maintained the momentum through another corner following Acquaye’s blocked cross on 41, and it was headed away from Creaney for another on the other side.
Milnes received the flagkick back on the right and whipped a cross into the box, but Digie’s header flashed out past the far post.
Tamworth moved the ball around well on 45, with Milnes looking for Digie with his cross, and although it evaded the Lambs defender Kurtaran was following in it was too fast for him to do anything other than slice it off his laces.
Three minutes added time was shown at the end of the half and although The Lambs has the majority of possession, and most of it in the Leamington half, they were unable to get a shot away before the whistle blew.

HT: 1-1
 
The Lambs' Arthur Frost award was presented to a deserved pair of club stalwarts - Bob Cooper and Rod Hadley - in front of the main stand before the game got back underway.

With the floodlights now doing their job Lynch had the first chance, heading Curley’s cross wide of the mark inside the first 30 seconds.
Play swung both ways until The Lambs pushed on, on 52, and Milnes forced a corner on the right which Kurtaran planted onto Creaney’s head but his effort was straight at Brearey.
At the other end Singh mishandled a powerfully swirling right footed curler from Farmer on the left of the area, but The Lambs defence were able to hastily clear their lines.
Mols found a gap in the box but his shot was hooked up by a defensive boot. It fell to Creaney but his path was blocked too, and on 63 Acquaye rifled a strike from the left of the area out past the far post.
Acquaye advanced and threaded it through to Mols on the left of the area on 64, finding Kurtaran on the edge of the box with his pass back but his shot was straight at Brearey.
However, when Mols cut in from the left and beat his marker he pulled it back to Creaney on the edge of the six yard box and although Brearey parried his initial effort it rebounded kindly for him to power home and put The Lambs in the driving seat. (1-2, 65 mins)
Before play restarted the referee showed the Leamington bench a yellow card after protesting a decision that wasn’t given in their favour prior to The Lambs goal.
Brearey did well to push a drilled 25 yard shot from Acquaye away for a corner on 68 and Digie got his head to the corner from Kurtaran but it bounced just wide of the far post and went out of play.
Tamworth had some concerted defending to do on 72 with Berridge and substitute Pais seeing their shots blocked in the area in quick succession, and The Lambs countered with Acquaye forcing a corner when Mols was prevented from heading his cross at the far post.
From the corner it fell to Acquaye on the edge of the area and he connected well enough but Brearey was able to push it onto the post and smother it before Cullinane-Liburd could connect with the rebound.
And on 75 Creaney wrapped his foot around a Curley throw which bounced in the area, but he couldn’t get it to drop inside the far post.
Milnes blazed a right footed strike from the edge of the area high over the goalmouth from 18 yards on 78 and Peaks made two changes for the final 10 minutes, Riley who had made 30 appearances for the Saddlers over the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, and Tonks, making his 150th appearance for The Lambs.
Singh pushed away a good strike from Berridge before Tamworth could regroup and Brearey got in-between Cullinane-Liburd and a Tamworth third on 82.
Tonks launched a trio of throws from the right on 84 but they came were unable to forge a chance, and at the other end, Lewthwaite half volleyed from 8 yards out but lifted his shot over the crossbar.
As the referee’s watch ticked towards four minutes of added time, a foul on Alzoni set up Farmer with a freekick on the left wing but despite there being all but one of his outfield teammates in the area his deadball drifted harmlessly out for a goalkick.
Another foul, on the right on Glennon, on 91 gave Farmer a second chance to load a freekick, and this time it fell for Alzoni, but Tamworth defended with hefty clearances.
Mols advanced over the halfway line but lost possession so Leamington advanced again, and Fairlamb headed the danger away before a low shot flew through the area and Blythe slid in hoping to connect but missed the ball by inches.
There was just time for a couple of Tamworth enforced corners before the final whistle blew to confirm victory for The Lambs as the management, players and fans celebrated a fourth piece of silverware for Andy Peaks’ squad in four seasons.

Leamington (3-3-4)
Brearey; Quaynor (Glennon 58), Streete, Blythe; Walker (c.) (Alzoni 80), Williams, Clarke; Farmer, Berridge, Edwards (Pais 57), Lewthwaite
Subs: Humphries, Bucky
YC: (none)
RC: (none)

Tamworth (4-4-2)
Singh; Curley, Digie, Cullinane-Liburd, Fairlamb; Mols, Milnes (c.) (Tonks 79), Kurtaran, Acquaye (McGlinchey 84); Creaney (Riley 79), Lynch
Subs: Phillips, Hollis
YC: (none)
RC: (none)

Birmingham County FA Player of the match: Jordan Cullinane-Liburd

Referee: Oliver Brakenbury
Assistants: Isaac Culver, Ben Hayes
Fourth Official: Adrian Horton

Attendance: 1197