At the Lamb Ground, Tamworth secured a dramatic 4-3 victory over AFC Fylde in a National League encounter characterised by fluctuating fortunes and a late, decisive goal. The match took a pivotal turn in the first half when a Tamworth player was shown a red card, leaving them to play with ten men for the majority of the game.
Tamworth began strongly, with Dan Creaney opening the scoring in the 9th minute, assisted by Luke Fairlamb. The early advantage was soon undermined when Jasbir Singh was dismissed for violent conduct in the 28th minute. AFC Fylde swiftly capitalised on their numerical advantage. Nick Haughton equalised in the 30th minute, and just six minutes later, Charlie Jolley, assisted by Bryce Hosannah, put the visitors ahead. In the 47th minute, Lincoln McFayden, assisted by Haughton, extended Fylde’s lead, giving them a seemingly comfortable advantage heading into half-time.
Despite their disadvantage, Tamworth showed resilience in the second half. Kennedy Digie reduced the deficit in the 54th minute, igniting renewed hope among the home supporters. Tamworth continued to press for an equaliser, their determination unwavering. Their persistence paid off in the 78th minute when Dan Creaney scored his second goal of the match, levelling the score at 3-3.
Substitute Kyle Finn, who entered the fray in the 74th minute, then secured a remarkable victory for Tamworth, scoring in the 91st minute. The final whistle was met with jubilant celebrations from the Tamworth supporters, who had witnessed a spirited display of resilience.
The match also saw several players cautioned. Joe Riley and Ben Winterbottom of AFC Fylde, and Tom Tonks of Tamworth were all shown yellow cards. Both managers made substitutions in an attempt to influence the game. Tamworth were forced into early changes following the red card, while AFC Fylde sought to protect their lead and later chase the game as Tamworth fought back.
Despite this dramatic victory, Tamworth’s 63 points see them finish the season in 10th position, narrowly missing out on a play-off spot. For AFC Fylde, the defeat confirms their relegation, a disappointing end to a difficult season which sees them finish in 23rd place with 40 points. While Tamworth were victorious in a previous head-to-head encounter earlier in the season, this match provided a different outcome, highlighting the unpredictable nature of football.