A hard-fought contest at Grosvenor Vale saw Tamworth edge past Wealdstone thanks to Beck-Ray Enoru’s second-half strike, capitalising on the home side’s numerical disadvantage. The opening 45 minutes proved a cagey affair, with both sides struggling to carve out clear-cut opportunities. A sign of Wealdstone’s growing frustration came just before the break when Enzio Boldewijn was booked for a rash challenge.
While the second half saw the game open up somewhat, genuine quality remained elusive. The key moment arrived in the 64th minute when Wealdstone’s Max Kretzschmar received a second yellow card, reducing the home side to ten men. This dismissal swung the balance decisively in Tamworth’s favour, and they duly capitalised in the 73rd minute. Enoru’s goal, while lacking aesthetic appeal, proved decisive, giving the visitors a crucial lead.
The goal prompted a flurry of substitutions from both benches. Tamworth, now a goal to the good, opted for a more defensive approach, withdrawing goalscorer Enoru, presumably to avoid the risk of a second yellow card, and making further changes to reinforce their backline. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Wealdstone pressed forward in search of an equaliser, but were unable to breach the resolute Tamworth defence.
While far from a classic encounter, the match highlighted Tamworth’s resilience and their ability to exploit Wealdstone’s indiscipline. The home side will undoubtedly rue the disciplinary lapses that ultimately cost them the game. The two sides, meeting in the league for the first time in three seasons, ended the match with contrasting fortunes. The victory sees Tamworth climb to 15th in the National League table on 37 points, while Wealdstone remain mired in the relegation zone in 21st place with 26 points.