This game had everything, a fired up Tower Park went out there with the intention of taking all 3 points. Kings Arms are a team which comfortably beat Tower Park in the pre season but Tower Park had come a long way.
Danny made a number of changes from the side which was knocked out of the cup last week opting for the success team of the previous week. With competition amongst places growing everyone was keen to put in a decent shift to secure a place in the team.
Once again as is the unwanted trademark of the team Tower Park were slow out of the blocks and conceeded an early goal after a period of pressure. However the team is now made of steel and once going can be an unstopable force.
The backline stayed strong with Scott "Der Fuhrer" and Stuart Cutler commanding it well covering the runs through and looking strong on set pieces.
The next 15 minutes of the first half was a pretty even affair with chances at both ends of the pitch up until Tower Park one a dangerous penalty just on the outside of Kings Arms box. Alex decided to try somthing a little different and got Craig to stand just off the keeper to block his view from the coming play. This tactic worked beautifully, with the keeper frustrated and blind and an excellent delivery from Stuart, Jimmy hit a shot from range which flew into the bottom corner.
Kings Arms appealed for offside and the Referee had to try and keep the game calm as tempers flaired over this crucial equaliser. After a conversation with the linesman the referree awarded the goal and everything was all square.
After the equaliser it was Kings Arms who were on the back foot and after some daring runs down the right hand side from Craig tower park looked the more likely to score particular after a decent chance was put wide from just outside the 6 yard box.
The 4-5-1 formation proved strong too with Chris making a number of great challanges just infront of the back 4.
Eventually luckily for Kings Arms the half time whistle blew and for the first time Tower Park had a real sense of belief that they could take this game as morale was high.
Danny took the decision not to make any changes at this stage and we entered the second half with the same team.
At around 50 minutes Tower Park looked certain to go ahead as Ryan broke free up front and into the opposition box only to be scythed down in the box for a stonewall penalty. Amazing the penalty was not given! Tempers once again flaired up and down the pitch with "Der Fuhrer" making plenty of friends in some heated exchanges.
The next opportunity came from another excellent piece of build up play from midfield, Craig then beat the keeper to the ball volleyed the ball over the keeper across goal for amazingly Alex to miss the target from inside 6 yards. Usually a clinical finisher this came as a real supprise and saw Danny react with a number of changes.
Adam Pidgley came on for Ryan, David Love for Jay and Dan Barker for Alex over the next period of 5 or 10 minutes.
More controversy was to come as with his first touch of the game Adam Pidgley fired home a volley into the top corner of the net for it to amazingly be ruled offside. The goal which was intially given was cancelled out after the opposition crowded the referee out and somehow managed to pursade him that Craig Moore was offside, despite the fact Craig had intercepted a pass from Kings Arms before sticking in the cross.
With 20 minutes to play now Tower Park could feel the win coming and just had to take it, legs were tired now though and the game settled with Kings Park probably looking the more likely to score. Tower Park owe the defence for keeping these last minute chances out and a number of saves from Danny.
