Wulfs progress in Cup

Wulfs, sponsored by Pegasus Planning Group, marked their debut in the Birmingham FA Midland Floodlit Cup with a difficult trip to WMRL Premier Division high-flyers Tividale.

Wulfs started the game brightly and had a good opportunity with just four minutes on the clock. Mark Tipton hit a long ball forward for Andy Mitchell to head back to Ricky Anslow. The young striker cut across his man and hit a weak shot straight at Tividale keeper Chris Walwyn when Simon Hardle was better placed alongside him.

It didn’t matter as Wulfs did take the lead just one minute later.  Rob Sheffield slid a pass through to Andy Mitchell and his charge towards goal was halted when he was bundled over from behind for a penalty which Andy Mitchell himself converted well.

Fraser Houston almost doubled Wulfs’ advantage five minutes later when he intercepted a pass on the half way line before carrying the ball to the edge of the penalty area and producing a sublime chip that went inches over the bar with the keeper stranded.

Tividale hit back and went close to drawing level on a couple of occasions, first when Adam Checketts hit a first time dipping shot just over the bar and then when Chris Smith glanced a header just wide.

Tividale were to rue these misses as Wulfs did double their advantage in the 26th minute. James Skedgel won possession and passed on to Simon Hardle. He exchanged passes with Andy Mitchell before hitting a low cross into the area that Tividale defender Shaun Reynolds could only force into his own net under pressure from behind.

This was a major setback for the home side and the only chance they had in the rest of the first half was a 30 yard strike from Nicky Dodds that flew harmlessly wide.

Tividale were expected to throw everything at Wulfs from the restart but in fact it was Wulfs who came out strongest.

Two minutes in to the second half Simon Hardle threaded a pass through to Ricky Anslow who rounded the keeper before seeing his shot blocked on the line. Andy Mitchell pounced on the loose ball but his turn and shot went wide.

One minute later and it was 3 - 0 to Wulfs. Liam Evans fed Fraser Houston down the right and he cut the ball back for Andy Mitchell to produce a great turn and slot coolly past the helpless keeper.

It was almost four soon after when Nicky Dodds’ attempted back pass was intercepted by Fraser Houston and he rounded the keeper before seeing his shot from a narrow angle cleared for a corner.

Wulfs went close again with fifteen minutes to go when Mark Tipton fed a great ball down the line to Andy Mitchell and his ball across goal was met by Ricky Anslow who controlled and shot just wide.

Tividale’s only clear cut chance of the game came two minutes from time when Chris Smith was put clear but Danny Tipton was out smartly to block his shot.