The Lambs came home to the HD Ricketts Community Stadium and welcomed Chris Agutter’s 11th placed Sutton United for the Enterprise National League encounter and dispensed exactly what the doctor ordered, bouncing back in style after the disappointing return from the trip to the Recreation Ground, Aldershot at the weekend.

Andy Peaks, ahead of his 250th game in charge, had honestly blasted the 5-1 turnover by the Shots as unacceptable and bolstered his depleted-by-injury squad by bringing in Gabriel Kelly and Hayden Carson on one-month loans from Stoke City and Salford City respectively, ahead of the game. TJ Bramble was also unavailable, away on International duty with Antigua and Barbuda so this meant seven changes to the starting XI from the weekend.

The visitors kicked off, but The Lambs quickly had a freekick at the Meadow Street End which Teo Kurtaran sent into the box and it caused problem but Kieren Donnelly was unable to get a clean shot away.
In the first real United foray forwards, Tom Parkes was forced to clear his lines under pressure from Temi Babalola with 10 minutes gone, and United sent the corner into the danger area with Tom Handley heading away under the far post in a crowd six yard box.
Tamworth responded by pressing Sutton back into the final third and on 20 minutes, Tom McGlinchey robbed Ben Brookes down the Lambs right and drilled it low looking for Donnelly, but he was denied a touch and forced a corner instead. The flagkick was punched clear by Spike Brits and United played keep ball to try and halt the Lambs surge.
A foul on McGlinchey set up Kurtaran 25 yards out and with the goal in his sight in the 25th minute and a deflection off the wall sent it skipping just past the left hand upright.
Kurtaran picked up a booking for pulling the shirt of Emmanuel Osadebe on the halfway line just short of the half hour mark, and this allowed Brooked to send a long freekick into the Lambs area. Carson headed the danger away and Ricky Calder sent it long for Donnelly and despite he seemed to get the better of Jake Taylor the referee spotted another foul and stopped him in his tracks.
Extended pressure from Donnelly and Morgan forced the visiting defence to get their bodies in the way of attempts on target after 33 minutes, and the final effort from the latter was blocked and looped up and over Brits’ bar.
Roberts’ corner was headed on by Parkes and away for another by Taylor which Brits punched away under close scrutiny from Handley at his near post.
After a couple of similar challenges earlier in the half Taylor was booked for a late challenge on Roberts in the centre circle on 39 minutes and from the freekick Tamworth maintained possession.
From a Calder cross from the left on 42 minutes Oli Dyson followed it’s dropping path and struck first time from the edge of the box but found the way blocked by a quick defensive readjustment.
From a long range power drive from Kurtaran as one minute added time was shown a corner resulted and The Lambs had two off target shots from McGlinchey and Handley before the whistle blew.

HT: 0-0

Both sides made a change before The Lambs restarted the game with Jordan Cullinane-Liburd replacing Tom Parkes and went in search of a goal at the Castle End.
It came very quickly after Joe Rye struck low on the angle from the right of the box. He was denied by a low parry from Brits and Donnelly followed in at the far post thumping it home before acrobatically celebrating by the corner flag to the delight of the Lambs faithful (1-0, 46 mins)
A fine threaded pass from McGlinchey allowed Donnelly to sprint past his marker and touch the ball into the box but it ran just to long but he managed to force a corner on the left.
And from the flagkick the ball came off the head of Handley and then Emmanuel Osadebe before going past Brits to double the advantage and bring another massive cheer from the home crowd. (2-0, 52 mins (own goal))
Carson completed his impressive Lambs debut with a round of applause as he made way for Ben Acquaye just past the hour, and The Lambs continue to dominate the game, containing any attack from the visitors and looking for a possible third goal.
McGlinchey made a run into the box and played a neat one two with Donnelly but found the side netting on 73 minutes, and Acquaye was sent tumbling in the area on 75 minutes, but awarding a penalty was not in the referee’s mind.
Assistant manager Neil Champelovier was then sent from the dugout following a vocal disagreement with the referee on 77 minutes meaning he missed the diving headed block and clearance off the line by Handley from a thumping Sutton United strike a minute later.
Spurred on, United found a second wind for a short period after this and the Tamworth defence coped with some concerted effort by the visitors.
Kelly then made his debut, replacing Kurtaran with 10 remaining and he was involved in the move that forced a corner from Donnelly’s blocked effort with 6 to go and allowed Cullinane-Liburd to head down towards the target before seeing it get booted away.
As the seconds ticked down on the five added minutes Osadebe fired well wide of the left hand post and Besart Topalloj headed wide of the same upright as Tamworth worked hard to preserve their first clean sheet of the season.
In the final act of a fine display by Tamworth, Osadebe span and rifled a half volley from 18 yards over the target

The Lambs will be looking to take the winning mentality to, and maintain their momentum in, their next game - an away trip to 3rd from bottom Hartlepool United on Saturday.

Tamworth
Lovett; Carson (Acquaye 63), Parkes (c.) (Cullinane-Liburd HT), Rye, Handley; Calder, Kurtaran, Dyson, McGlinchey; Roberts (Hutchinson 89); Donnelly
Subs: Singh, Lyttle, Silva
YC: Kurtaran 29, Cullinane-Liburd 49
RC: (none)

Sutton United
Brits, Topalloj, Nightingale, Osadebe, Taylor (c.) (Njoku HT), Babalola (Folarin 65), Bell (Mussa 65), Urpens, Ogbonna, Knight (Amartey 61), Brookes
Subs: Donkor, Haigh
YC: Taylor 39
RC: (none)

Referee: Callum Jones

Attendance: 1063 (131 from Sutton United)

MOM: Chosen by match sponsors: Tamworth Chiropractic Clinic: Keiren Donnelly