AFC Wulfrunians V Tividale (Premier Division)

AFC Wulfrunians were looking for a result yesterday afternoon to continue their good form under Carl Abbott and cement their position in the top half of the table. The Wulfs have grown into the season and were unbeaten in their last three matches coming into this one.

Tividale have struggled in the premier division this season and are involved in a relegation battle to stay in step five. The visitors were five points off Northwich Victoria in 16th place coming into this one and had the chance to make up some ground with Northwich’s match against Uttoxeter getting called off yesterday.  

​The atmosphere around Castlecroft was welcoming and relaxed with both sets of supporters looking forward to the match. It’s a brilliant ground to visit for casual groundhoppers across the West Midlands and is accessible to get to by public transport. Supporters can get the number 3 bus from Wolverhampton City Centre and get off at Castlecroft Hotel for a short walk to the ground. 

​Starting Line Ups

The starting line up for AFC Wulfrunians included Joe Williams starting in goal and Bradley Maslen-Jones captaining the team from central defence. The formation looked like a 3-4-3 with Daniel Munday playing up front and being supported on the wings by Kane Lee and Finlay Barker.

There were two changes from the team that started against Dudley Town last weekend with Lee Chilton coming back into the team and playing at left wing-back.

Tividale’s starting line up featured Louis Connor starting in goal and Zach Kourouyianni captaining the team from central defence. The formation appeared to be a 3-4-3 with a front two of Jack Till and Ryan Snape being supported by Max Morris in the attacking midfield role.

There were three changes from the team that started against Dudley Town in mid-week with Joe Burroughs coming back into the team and playing as part of a back three. 

First Half

AFC Wulfrunians started the match brightly and took the game to Tividale early on. They were making things happen in the final third and causing problems down the wings in the opening twenty minutes. The best chance to take the lead fell to Kane Lee on the right wing who made an excellent run before having a shot hit the far post.

Tividale did a good job of seeing the opening twenty minutes out to get a foothold in the match and looked well organised off the ball to limit the clear-cut chances in front of goal for AFC Wulfrunians. They were growing into the match as the first half went on and were passing the ball around well.    

The visitors were starting to get into a rhythm with the only thing missing being the final ball to cause AFC Wulfrunians problems defensively.  Tividale were building attacks well and playing out from the back to stifle AFC Wulfrunians’ early momentum.

AFC Wulfrunians did a good job to contain Tividale’s attacking threat and had a good chance to take the lead on the half hour mark. An excellent free kick into the box was headed over the bar by Jack Rowley. Both teams were knocking on the door to take the lead in an even first half.

The hosts managed to take the lead on the 33rd minute to make it 1-0. Finlay Barker was fouled in the box by Joe Burroughs for a spot kick with Daniel Munday stepping up to take it. His initial effort was instinctively saved by Louis Connor before the rebound fell into his path to finish into the bottom right corner.

It was tough on Tividale who competed well up to that point and it gave the hosts a sense of control over the match.

The last ten minutes of the first half was action packed with a lot of notable chances in front of goal from both teams. Kane Lee had a good chance from a second ball that was delivered into the box before putting his effort over the bar.

The best chance for Tividale in the first half came late on when Jack Till made a brilliant run and was one on one with Joe Williams before firing wide. Malcolm Melvin played an excellent chipped ball over the AFC Wulfrunians defence from midfield that was well anticipated by Jack Till near the edge of the box to create the opening.

AFC Wulfrunians mainly played a possession-based style and liked to invite Tividale on to them so they could play a long ball over the defence. They had an excellent chance to make it 2-0 at the end of the first half where an accurate long ball found Tom Poole down the right. The Wing-back advanced into the box before having an effort go wide.

Second Half

AFC Wulfrunians managed to make it 2-0 early in the second half to make it an uphill task for the visitors. A well delivered corner found Dexter Dudley-Toole at the back post who headed the ball into the net. It was a well worked set piece routine from the hosts, but Tividale would have felt disappointed as they could have put considerable pressure on the hosts in the second half.

From 2-0 down Tividale were chasing the match for the rest of the second half. One of the positives for the visitors was how they stuck to their passing style and showed character to keep going despite the scoreline. Their best chance in the second half came when a neat passing move resulted in Jack Till having a shot well saved in the box at the near post by Joe Williams.           

AFC Wulfrunians’ best chance of the second half came when a good ball into the box by Curtis Cocking found Kane Lee in the box who fired narrowly wide of the far post. The front three for AFC Wulfrunians impressed throughout this match and were creating several good chances in the box which was a real positive yesterday.

Tividale did manage to get a goal back late on to set up a nervy finish to the match. A well delivered free kick by Ryan Snape found Joe Burroughs in the box who finished well at the back post to make it 2-1. This proved to be a consolation for the visitors with AFC Wulfrunians holding on to take home the three points and their sixth home win of the season.

Full Time

AFC Wulfrunians played well in this match and were worthy of the win. There’s quality throughout the team both on and off the ball and they showed a lot of effort and endeavour yesterday to get a result.

Bradley Maslen-Jones was excellent at the back and read the game well from central defence. He managed to stop several promising Tividale attacks to take the pressure off the hosts, especially in the first half. Joe Williams also had a good game and made some crucial saves to give AFC Wulfrunians the three points.   

Dennis Digie had an underrated game from holding midfield and was linking up the play well. He offered the team a sense of composure when building attacks from midfield and moved the ball quickly through the thirds of the pitch.

Tividale played well in this match despite the result. They showed a lot of character and effort throughout the afternoon and have quality on the ball to make things happen.

The front two of Ryan Snape and Jack Till played well and looked a threat in the final third. Ryan Snape has been notably good at creating chances at this level and could be the difference in tight matches for the visitors. Jack Till was getting into some good positions around the box which was encouraging.

Malcolm Melvin had an underrated game from holding midfield and was passing the ball around well, especially in the first half. He linked up the play well for the visitors and gave them a way of growing into the match.   

Overall, there were encouraging signs that they could pick up results to have a chance of staying up.       

FT score: AFC Wulfrunians 2-1 Tividale

Man of the Match: Bradley-Maslen Jones (AFC Wulfrunians)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League