Today saw the might Tower Park FC take on their derby match against A&T Athletic in only the 2nd game of the season. The pressure was high and the manager wanted to get win to boost th teams morale and give them a springboard to launch there campaign this season.
Danny showed today he was not afraid to make changes, and after last weeks defeat the starting 11 saw a number of alterations. David Love and Alex Kreutz both started their first game this league after being ruled out for last weeks fixture. Stuart Cutler also started this week which was great news for the team as it was thought he would be ruled out for 6 weeks due to other commitments.
Tower Park got off to the worst possible start conceding within the first 2 minutes from an audacious run from the opposition who just ran through our defence straight onto goal. The woes continued as Tower Park conceded a second goal inside 10 minutes it looked like it could be a long morning for Tower Park.
After some cheering from el capitan the team fired itsself back up and after a shaky opening 15 minutes looked to stablise itself to at least prevent any further damage. The Tower Park defence made some excellent clearances with some powerful headers coming from the 2 centre backs Mark and Graeme. Tower park during pre season had picked up a habit of finding it difficult to get themselves back into games but Alex Kreutz gave Tower Park that little spark they needed after finding the back of the net at 25 minutes. The assist came from Scott Carlton with a brillant header to which Alex Unleshed an unsaveable shot from.
The momentum had turned and it looked like Tower Park could grab an equaliser before half time and they were definetly pushing for it. David Love on his first game this season looked likely to find it as he was hunting in the box chasing down everything. Then came the break Tower Park needed in the form of a penalty and up steppted last years captain Mark Adey.
The entire stadium usually defeaning from the home fans cheering was silent, sat on the edge of their seats as Mark placed the ball on the spot. He didnt disapoint and struck it home with enough power to hit the back of the net even though the keeper had gone the right way, it was 2-2.
Tower Park looked the more likely to score now with James Palmero making some promicing runs down the left. Tower Park really had A&T on the backfoot who were looking at their watches hoping it was time for half time. Half time saved them and it was 2-2 at the break.
The 2nd Half saw no changes from either side, but the Tower Park subs could be seen warming up behind the goal as the game got underway again. Tower Park went out there, they could smell blood and were hunting for the third.
Tower park now looked solid at the back too after the opening jitters with special mention to Dan Morris who put in an inspired performance at left back. Dan kept A&T's right back quiet all game and made some brillant clearances.
55 minutes had passed and after some discussions with his assistant Danny decided it was time to freshen things up. Alex Kreutz had picked up a little niggle towards the end of the first half and was subbed off for Ryan Giles one of the rising youth stars coming through the academy. Ryan went up to spearhead the attack with Dave Love dropping off the striker to provide the link up from midfield.
Tower Park kept pushing for that winner and it looked close surley it was a matter of time. Danny thought the team needed some fresh legs to help find it so Jay Keating made way for Craig Moore at 65mins for a like for like swap over on the wing. Dan Barker came on slightly after with Scott making way for him.
Those fresh legs made all the difference with Ryan getting a goal on his debut! Calmly slotting home a wonderful goal around the 72nd minute to give Tower Park a 3-2 lead and the place erupted. If there was a roof on this stadium it would of come off.
Unfortuently this was cancelled out by an unfortuate own goal at the other end of the pitch moments later as a failed clearence found its way past Danny Boon.
Then at around 82 minutes with just 8 minutes on the clock Ryan made a daring run down the left turned in and fancied a shot on goal. The keeper made a fine save but could only parry it out as far as Craig Moore who positioned in the 6 yard box tapped it home to give park the lead once more.
Tower Park then tightened up at the back with the defence and midfield linking up well to make sure we saw this game out. Craig missed the changes to make it 5-3 after a goal line clearance from their centre back but Tower Park saw the game out for the first win of the season.
Great performance by all.
