Tipton St John 1 - 1 Sidbury

Division One

Because of the recent wet weather Tipton played their first game since December 5, and only their second since the November 17 against high flying Sidbury United, but showed no signs of rustiness from the start, writes Richard Williams.

In the first four minutes they had two efforts saved from Barry Wood and Johnny Beer, in between which Dale Strawbridge made a fine save from a Sidbury effort.

Tipton took the lead on 14 minutes with a well worked move on the left when Beer played a fine ball to Wood who knocked it on to Jody Freeman, who knocked it back to Wood who shot from close range giving Jamie Harvey in the Sidbury goal no chance.

Both sides battled well until just before the half hour when Glen Salter had a shot for Sidbury, which went well over the bar.

Sidbury equalised just afterwards when they broke down their left and a fine shot went low into the far corner of the Tipton net.

They had a further chance from a header on 36 minutes but this was saved by Dale Strawbridge. The score remained level until half time.

Both teams started well in the second half but Sidbury took the lead on 51 minutes when Tipton did well to clear a shot, from a good Sidbury move for a corner.

They took the lead from a fine header from the corner kick. Four minutes later Tipton went close when a header landed on the roof of the net and then Sidbury broke upfield immediately and Tipton did well to block a shot on their line. Tipton continued to battle well, but on 70 minutes Sidbury were awarded a penalty which was struck well but saved by Dale Strawbridge diving to his right to keep his team in the match.

Tipton were rewarded for their efforts on 90 minutes when Harvey, in the Sidbury goal, was caught out of his area and his clearance fell to Jody Freeman whose first time shot from 30 yards hit the back of the net.

Harvey made up for this in injury time when Tipton were awarded a free kick wide on their left.

Quick thinking substitute Barry Youlden took it before the Sidbury defence could organise themselves, forcing a fine save from Harvey, who tipped it away for a corner. The match ended shortly after giving Tipton a well deserved point, which took them out of the bottom three of the league. Man of the Match for Tipton was midfielder Matt Daly who was superb throughout, and who played much of the game with a bad cut on his foot.

which he suffered when fouled part way through the first half.