A late sucker-punch from substitute Tom Tonks deep into stoppage time earned Tamworth a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Braintree Town at the Rare Breed Meat Co. Stadium. The 93rd-minute strike snatched all three points for the visitors in a match that looked destined to end in a stalemate.
The opening exchanges were a cagey affair, with neither side able to carve out any clear-cut opportunities. The first significant action came in just the 4th minute when Braintree defender George Langston was shown a yellow card for a rash challenge. The stop-start nature of the game continued, with a flurry of cautions disrupting any potential rhythm. Tamworth’s Jordan Cullinane-Liburd and Braintree’s Marley Marshall-Miranda were both booked before Ben Acquaye also received a yellow card just before half-time, leaving both teams with players walking a disciplinary tightrope.
Braintree manager Angelo Harrop opted for a tactical change at the interval, withdrawing the booked Langston and introducing midfielder Matt Robinson. While the substitution seemed to inject some energy into the home side, they continued to find the resolute Tamworth defence a tough nut to crack. As the second half wore on, both managers turned to their benches in search of a breakthrough. Braintree brought on Inih Effiong and Kyrell Lisbie to add firepower to their attack, while Tamworth looked to freshen up their midfield with the introductions of Kai Lissimore and, crucially, Tom Tonks.
As the clock ticked down, the tension inside the ground mounted. A draw seemed the most likely outcome, but deep into injury time, Tamworth launched one final attack. The ball broke to Tonks on the edge of the penalty area, and the substitute coolly slotted the ball past the outstretched Braintree goalkeeper, sending the travelling supporters into raptures.
The late goal was a cruel blow for Braintree, who had worked tirelessly throughout the match but ultimately lacked the necessary cutting edge in the final third. The victory lifts Tamworth to 18th in the National League table with 11 points, while Braintree remain in 21st place with 7 points.