The Lambs embarked on defence of their Birmingham Senior Cup double by welcoming The Adders to the HD Ricketts Community Stadium for the first meeting in a competitive fixture since April 2000, and 93 years since their first meeting on Boxing Day 1933.

It was the 130th meeting between the two sides (including games against Atherstone Town (1933-1978) and United (1984-2000)) and the more recent incarnation (since 2004) as a ‘Community Football Club’ currently plying their trade in the United Counties League, Premier Division South but the first for both Andy Peaks and visiting manager Mitch Thompson.
Peaks fielded a strong side, with added ammunition on the bench and the tie had to be settled on the night with no extra time, but penalties if required.
After an perfectly observed moment of Remembrance The Adders kicked off the game in light rain towards the Castle End but the first chance fell from a Morgan Roberts freekick on the left after 3 minutes which was headed away from the intentions of Dan Creaney for a corner on the right.
The flagkick was nodded away from danger for another corner on the opposite site and cleared before being recycled just over the head of Creaney at the far post.
From a Lambs attack on 9 minutes, the ball eventually rebounded out for Howley to swing a right boot at, but it rose up and over Lewis Gwilliams cross bar and the keeper outjumped Creaney to snatch the ball off the head of the Lambs striker after a flick on from Tom McGlinchey a minute later.
Dyson unleashed a curling shot which Gwilliams grabbed above head height on 13 minutes, and Johnanthan Macaulay got his first touch of the game a few minutes later when Roan Newey saw space from 25 yards and fired low at the Lambs keeper.
As the game progressed Tamworth maintained the upper hand but found it difficult to get a final ball into the danger area thanks in no small part to some resolute defending from the Adders to get the ball out of the final third.
But it wasn’t long before The Lambs took the lead, a low, long distance shot from Howley into the area was diverted on and past Gwilliams by Creaney, 8 yards out, to the delight of the home faithful. (1-0, 34 mins)
Rye picked up a booking for a clumsy challenge on Newey as the visitors tried to get through The Lambs defence from the restart and the freekick set them up 25 yards out for a direct strike on goal which Lewis Noon planted into Macaulay’s waiting hands.
A neat move between Howley and Creaney nearly fed Ricky Carter with the third side of a triangle ball but it was just to strong for him to get to before Gwilliams, but a corner resulted which was cleared.
In the next move, on 42 minutes, Creaney squared for Morgan Roberts but Noon got there first conceding another flagkick and Roberts’ kick hit the top of the bar and was booted away from danger when it dropped far past the target.
McGlinchey drove a first time effort inches wide of the left hand upright after a knock back from Creaney on the edge of the D on 44 minutes, but there was just time for Hayden Carson to rifle home from close range after Creaney had seen his initial attempted blocked (2-0, 45+2 mins)

HT: 2-0

The Lambs restarted, with the Castle End goal now in their sights and they maintained the same attacking mentality as in the first half in the early exchanges.
A deep ball from the left found Creaney on 50 minutes but his header looped high and Gwilliams collected with McGlinchey rushing in, and on 52 Calder struck from 35 yards but it whistled out past the right hand post.
And on 55 minutes after a tricky run from Dyson in the right channel McGlinchey picked his spot from 18 yards but got his aim just off and his shot cannoned up off the crossbar to safety.
A foul by Carson on Newey in the next move set Town up but it was wasted, however Carson pulled the same player back a minute later and gave the visitors another chance from 20 yards out in a central position.
Noon struck it on target at Macaulay, and he fumbled the catch but was fortunate that it rebounded off the far post and back into his arms at chest height.
The Lambs extended their lead on the hour with Creaney finishing a from close range after McGlinchey had seen his shot blocked and Carson’s follow up had been saved by the feet of Gwilliams (3-0, 60 mins)
The Lambs made a double change before the game got back underway and with Creaney on his hattrick there were no surprises that he was calling for as much as possible when The Lambs advanced towards Gwilliams goal.
But there were celebrations at the other end when Newey found a way through into the left of the box and fired past Macaulay at his near post (3-1, 69 mins)
Substitute Ramell Carter jinked his way into the box and forced a corner on 72 minutes, and there were two shouts for a penalty when McGlinchey went down and there appeared to be a hand to a ball as it bounced for Creaney but the referee was not swayed by the on and off field calls.
From a freekick on 80 Jordan Cullinane-Liburd headed down and it bounced up and rebounded off the crossbar before being cleared away, but only as far as McGlinchey who struck on target, but straight at Gwilliams.
Keiren Donnelly saw his shot blocked on 82 minutes and Gabriel Kelly’s follow up was equally well blocked and at the other end Riley Davoile forced Macaulay into a flying save to his left to push it away from the top corner.
Ryan Harkin diverted the flagkick it into the side netting, fooling some in the ground to thinking it had reduced the arrears to set up a tense finish.
As four minutes added time was shown, Carter picked the ball up in the right of the area but blasted his strike over the target but he made no mistake a couple of minutes later with a low strike through the crowded area to put The Lambs into the next round as 4-1 winners (4-1, 90+2 mins)

Tamworth (4-2-3-1)
Macaulay; Fairlamb, Carson (Cullinane-Liburd 61), Rye (Carter 61), Dyson; Howley, Roberts (Hutchinson 70); Calder, Kelly (c.), McGlinchey; Creaney (Donnelly 79)
Subs: Lovett
YC: Rye 37
RC: (none)

Atherstone Town CFC
Gwilliams, Wells, Steele, Jones, Rowe, Martin, Noon, Healy (Walker-Donovan 78), Newey (Harkin 71), Fitzgerald (Kahiroh 84), Quinn (c.) (Davoile 67)
Subs: Collins
YC: Noon 65
RC: (none)

Referee: Mr Jake Allsopp

Attendance: 1103 (335 away fans)