Tamworth secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Wealdstone at The Lamb, with substitute Jake Hutchinson scoring deep into stoppage time to complete a late comeback. Wealdstone had led for much of the contest but were reduced to ten men in the second half before Nathan Tshikuna equalised from the penalty spot and Hutchinson struck in the 97th minute to snatch all three points for the hosts.
Wealdstone made the brighter start and forced Tamworth goalkeeper Jas Singh into action during the opening stages. The visitors’ early pressure was rewarded in the 11th minute when Aidan Francis-Clarke supplied Olufela Olomola, who found the net to give Wealdstone a deserved 1-0 advantage.
Tamworth attempted to respond, but Wealdstone continued to pose a threat and protected their lead through the remainder of the first half. The visitors were forced into a change in the 31st minute when Tyrelle Newton replaced Kyle Smith, while Tamworth’s Ben Milnes received a yellow card five minutes later. Neither side was able to add to the scoring before the interval, leaving Wealdstone 1-0 ahead at half-time.
Tamworth emerged looking for a route back into the contest, but Wealdstone continued to protect their narrow advantage as the second half developed. Gary Waddock introduced Luke Norris for Jayden Harris shortly after the hour, while the hosts looked to increase the pressure in search of an equaliser.
The complexion of the match changed dramatically in the 68th minute. Wealdstone’s Connor McAvoy committed a foul inside the penalty area and was shown his second yellow card, reducing the visitors to ten men and handing Tamworth an opportunity to draw level from the spot. Tshikuna stepped up and converted the resulting penalty in the 69th minute to make it 1-1.
With a numerical advantage and renewed momentum, Tamworth began to push for a winner. Thomas McGlinchey was introduced in the 75th minute before Hutchinson entered the contest four minutes later, while Wealdstone attempted to reorganise and protect the point with ten men. Jack Cook was among those introduced for the visitors as the closing stages became increasingly tense.
Tamworth continued to press as the match moved into a lengthy period of stoppage time. Wealdstone resisted the pressure until the 97th minute, when two of Tamworth’s substitutes combined to produce the decisive moment. McGlinchey provided the assist and Hutchinson found the net to put the hosts 2-1 ahead, sparking celebrations around The Lamb.
There was still time for further drama, with the contest continuing beyond the 100-minute mark. Wealdstone’s Dylan Kadji and Mason Barrett were both cautioned during the closing stages, but the visitors were unable to produce a response and Tamworth held on to complete a dramatic comeback victory.
The result lifted Tamworth to 20th place in the completed Saturday National League table with eight points from nine matches, moving them off the bottom four. Wealdstone finished the day one place above them in 19th, also on eight points but ahead on goal difference, after suffering their second successive league defeat.
