Andy Peaks’ Lambs returned to the Altair Group Community Stadium after three back-to-back away defeats to welcome, former Wales and Manchester United star, Mark Hughes’ 3rd placed Cumbrians.

With a trip to current table toppers Rochdale coming seven days later and the Quarter Final of the Birmingham Senior Cup in the middle Tamworth were looking to start a busy week with a positive result despite the gulf, on paper at least, between Peaks’ and Hughes’ squads.

The visitors kicked off the game in bright sunshine with Tamworth attacking the Meadow Street End in the first half and Lynch forced a flagkick on 3 which Acquaye whipped in from the Cross Street corner and Creaney hooked back but Breeze took it easily at height.
Lynch forced another corner on 5 but the keeper was equal to that too, and the keeper was tested for the first time on 10 when Mols chipped it up to set himself up with an angled strike from the right of the area which was easy enough for Breeze.
Linney made a strong run down the United left and into the box on 16 but his low cross was nowhere near the run of Armstrong and the chance was over as quick as it started.
At the other end, a Lambs throw from the left was flicked on by Acquaye and fell to Lynch on 17, but his shot on the turn went high and wide of the mark.
Tamworth continued to frustrate their opponents while also playing on the front foot, on the floor, and looking for openings without playing football that opened up risks that would give Carlisle the unexpected advantage and ability to counter attack.
Fairlamb made headway over the halfway line on 30 before being tackled, and Cullinane-Liburd’s throw from the left had to be booted away by Armstrong and once again Tamworth held strong to keep United from taking the game into their own hands.
Lynch set up Mols with a similar angled strike to his first on 32 but he only found the hoardings to the right of the goal and after Singh had cleared a long ball forward on 36, Creaney and Acquaye combined and the former drilled it low into the box and it took captain Feeney to bundle the ball behind for a corner as it rolled towards near post.
Fairlamb nearly found Creaney’s head on 41 and instead it resulted in a corner on the right which Breeze took at height, and the keeper was beaten on 42 when Digie threaded it through to Lynch but he was found just offside as he took it into the box and finished past Breeze.
Fairlamb and Acquaye combined with the latter forcing another Lambs corner, the fifth of the game, and it was cleared but only as far as Creaney who struck right footed last the right hand upright.
One minute added time was shown at the end of the first half, and Lynch forced another corner but it was cleared and the whistle blew on a very one sided half.

HT: 0-0

The Lambs restarted the game after both sides made a change with Kurtaran replacing Bates in the Lambs midfield.
And the home side continued to play high, keeping United back in their final third for periods in the opening 5 minutes of the half.
United forced their first corner of the game on 51 when sub Ajiboye’s cross rebounded off the Lambs defence and although Rye blocked the loose ball as Carlisle pushed on, Wearne struck from distance towards the top corner and despite Jas Singh’s best efforts the ball dropped on the line and span into the net. (0-1, 52 mins)
Rye forced a corner on the right off his powerful deflected cross and Milnes found Kurtaran who found Acquaye but his strike from the right was blocked on the edge of the area.
A Kurtaran corner on the left on 58 was nearly met by the head of Digie, but a foul on Armstrong halted play before anyone could react to the loose ball.
Tamworth continued to go in search of a goal, and a cross come shot from Cullinane-Liburd went into the arms of Breeze on the hour, and another flagkick came on 62 from Creaney’s glanced header which took a touch behind for Kurtaran on the left, which Breeze took at his far post.
United forged an opening on 63 with Ajiboye advancing down the right and crossing across the six box but Armstrong was unable to get enough of a touch to finish it at the far post and at the other end Lynch fired wide of the mark again when well placed and in space in the area.
But Lynch made no mistake on 64 finishing from close range after Creaney set him up, to the delight of the home faithful. (1-1, 64 mins)
The Lambs had another corner on 66 which Breeze took again, and on 68 Lynch slammed his shot into the side netting after Milnes had released him into the left channel.
Acquaye beat his man on the left and left Atkinson in his wake before hitting a low shot from the left corner of the area just wide of the goal, and there was a stop in play as Rye received treatment on the field.
Acquaye was booked for a pull on Wearne as the United player made headway over the halfway line and from the restart Tamworth responded by breaking downfield with Fairlamb heading into the box and pulling it back for Lynch to slam home from 6 yards. (2-1, 76 mins)
Singh denied substitute Parker’s close range attempted flick past the Lambs keeper on 82 with a simple stop, and Lynch made Breeze drop to smother an on target shot from distance on 86 but it was never going to trouble him too much.
Creaney got his boot to a low cross from Kurtaran on 90, and it flicked up and forced Breeze to protect his near post from the looping ball, and at the other end Macadam curled a tame effort from distance into Singh’s arms.
Tonks replaced Milnes for the six added minutes, and United pressed looking for an equaliser as the minutes ticked down.
There was just time for a late freekick from Wearne which Singh plucked out of the air and the final whistle blew on a superb three points.

Tamworth
Singh; Rye (Curley 77), Cullinane-Liburd, Digie, Fairlamb; Mols, Bates (Kurtaran HT), Milnes (c.) (Tonks 90+1), Acquaye (Reindorf 78); Lynch, Creaney
Subs: Cockerill-Mollett, Hollis, McGlinchey
YC: Acquaye 75
RC: (none)

Carlisle United
Breeze; Atkinson, Mugabi (Thomas 90+2), Feeney, Galvin; Macadam; Gilliead (Parker 81), Conn-Clarke (Ajiboye HT), Wearne; Linney, Armstrong
Subs: Harper, Whelan, Mair, Ellis
YC: (none)
RC: (none)

Attendance: 1716 (727 from Carlisle)

Referee: Mr. Gareth Thomas
Assistants: Mr. Thomas Staten, Mr. Ryan Saward
Fourth Official: Mr. Jonathan Maskrey

Man of the Match – Chosen by Match Sponsors;
Cotterill Fencing: Oliver Lynch
Instarmac: Oliver Lynch