Villa netted twice in the second half to take the spoils in an enjoyable runout which could have seen The Lambs create a bigger margin at the break after Teo Kurtaran's penalty separated the two.

After Saturday’s 3-1 victory over a Stoke City’s U21 side, Tamworth welcomed the Villains U21s to The Lamb for their next pre-season friendly.
A minutes silence was observed before the game following the recent passing Head of Player Talent ID at Aston Villa, Steve Hopcroft. Steve was a hugely respected figure within football and academy recruitment, particularly across the West Midlands, where he earned a reputation for his exceptional eye for young talent and his unwavering dedication to the game. He leaves a legacy of countless players who without him may not have found their way in the professional game. Our thoughts go out to his, family friends at this sad time.
With the sun dropping behind the Castle End Villa kicked off towards it, but The Lambs started brighter, and Donnelly got his head to a McGlinchey centre on 2, forcing a corner in the process and Creaney headed home at the far post but the ‘goal’ was quickly ruled out for a push in the box in the build up.
When the ball ran free from a blocked tackle on the edge of the area on 5, Milnes his a low first time effort off target, but it continued the positive approach from the home side as both teams looked to move the ball around quickly.
Roberts forced and took a corner on the right on 9 which was cleared but only as far as Lyttle who jinked around his man and put a cross in for Donnelly who forced the Asemota into a save and Creaney pounced on the rebound but fired his swivelling effort just wide of the far post.
The Lambs continued to press forcing the Villa keeper into another block on 14 and Creaney rose highest to meet it but headed wide of the near post.
The Lambs keeper was made to protect his goal from a low strike from the Villa 6 on 19, and from the Lambs play upfield at the other end Lyttle sent a perfect ball in for Creaney from the right wing, but he couldn’t direct his header on target.
Asemoto somehow prevented the ball going into the back of the net on 20 under close attention from Donnelly and as the ball came back of the post the referee pointed to the spot for a penalty which Kurtaran despatched to give Tamworth the lead (1-0, 21 mins)
It was nearly 2 on 24 when Calder crossed from the left wing into the back of the box and Donnelly was presented with a free header but he too could only direct it wide of the target.
Lyttle and Kurtaran dealt with a searching Villa cross on 32 and Tamworth responded with a quick move upfield involving Lyttle and Roberts, and it eventually fell to Creaney who saw his right footed half volley deflect away for a Roberts corner on the right.
It was headed behind for a repeat attempt, which Creaney headed and McGlinchey sliced from the clearance but it fell to Roberts who drove goalward on the angle and the Villa keeper did very well to drop and block it at the near post.
Villa squeezed the ball through to the Lambs keeper on 38 with ‘9’ seeing his attempted shot well blocked before it trickled towards goal, and once again Tamworth countered with a quick break over the halfway line and Roberts picked it up before drilling it towards the near post.
Donnelly angled a right footed shot from the right out past the far post before one minute added time was shown in which Roberts drove from a similar position before the whistle blew.

HT: 1-0

Villa made three changes in the break, including the keeper, and they pulled the scores level on 48 after a flowing move down the left ended with ‘7’ glancing the ball past the Lambs keeper into the far corner (1-1, 48 mins)
Donnelly for the Villains defence to conceded a corner on 50, but Tamworth couldn’t forge an opening although they were awarded a freekick when the same player was brought to ground on 54, and from the freekick Fogarty nodded it back towards goal and Creaney glanced his close range header up and onto the roof of the net.
A lyttle throw from the left was then headed on by Creaney and Fogarty connected with his head, but the keeper was in the right place to catch it at head height.
The Lambs made 10 changes on 59 with just Hollis remaining on the field, and a minute later Villa swapped 8 on field players making the final half hour a different game altogether.
Jasper curled a drilled shot from the left into the keeper’s arms on 70 and there were shouts for handball in the area on 71 when Acquaye and Hutchinson both has separate attempts to hook the ball goalward, but there was no decision from the referee in The Lambs favour this time.
Hollis and Meade went toe to toe into the area on 73 and when the latter went down, again, the referee was not swayed and Singh was then quickest to a through ball that Meade was chasing down.
Tshikuna tried a 25 yard shot on 77 which landed in the Castle End terrace, and Villa went close at the other end with a sliding shot from the Meade again which went just wide of the mark.
But there was no mistake from the visitors on 80 when Meade was allowed time to strike from close range after a quick break down the Villa left and a well placed cut back into space before a tidy finish (1-2, 80 mins)
As the minutes ticked down Tamworth looked for an equaliser but were unable to find a clear path to, or sight on, goal until the first of three minutes added time when Bramble hit a low shot of the surface that the keeper was equal to.
There
The Lambs now look ahead to Saturday when they travel to The Grove, home of Southern League Premier Central Halesowen Town for the next in their pre-season preparations.

Tamworth
1st Half: Trialist, Lyttle, Fogarty, Hollis, Calder, McGlinchey, Milnes, Kurtaran, Roberts, Creaney, Donnelly
59 mins: Singh, Rye, Cullinane-Liburd, Hollis, Handley, Tshikuna, Dyson, Bramble, Acquaye, Hutchinson, Jasper
Subs: Rachel

Aston Villa U21s
Asemota, Atkins, Taylor, Burgess, Barnard, Quinn, Mulley, Jenner, Wilson, McGrath, Kedhr
Subs: Fortes, Earley, Mudame, Addey, Johnson, Hayward, Lynskey, Boyd, Kellyman, Bindley, Meade
(Player numbers were not advised so no sub info available)

Referee: Richie Watkins

Attendance: 743