The game saw the Chocolate Men take to the field in their first league game of the season against newcomers Tamworth Academy, who have had a flying start to their first season in MFL Division 4.
A couple of changes for the Reserves saw Shaun Hunter come in for the absent Matty Raybould, and Ollie Statham coming in for the absent Aaron Atkins. The game started much in Tamworth’s favour, a strike in the first minute from the left hand side was pushed away by Ricky, who was then beaten moments later but the striker was judged to be offside. Cadbury began to find their feet in the game and had a chance of their own on 15 minutes. Odane Campbell broke down the left and squared the ball for Statham, whose effort only found the hands of the visiting keeper.
Tamworth took the lead on 20 minutes; a ball across the 18 yard box from the advancing full back was met by the Tamworth striker who finished. Tamworth doubled their lead on 22 minutes when a strike from the right hand side went under the diving Ricky. Cadbury were then forced into a reshuffle with Che coming off due to an injury, being replaced by Husein. Shaun moved into the middle with Hus coming in on the right hand side.
Tamworth was then unlucky to not make it a third, the linesman flagging for another offside when the ball was in the Cadbury net. On half an hour, Cadbury saw sight of the goal once again. Hus made great strides down the right hand side, his ball finding Shaun in the middle whose strike ended up the wrong side of the post. Although Tamworth had the majority of the possession, it always felt like there was an opportunity for Cadbury to pounce. On 38 minutes though, Tamworth had the ball in the net again but the linesman’s flag ruled it out for offside. 2 became 3 shortly before half time. The impressive 10 for Tamworth won a free header to the number 9, who’s resulting through ball was finished by the 11.

Half Time: Cadbury Athletic 0 vs 3 Tamworth Academy

Again, Tamworth came out of the blocks firing second half and increased the lead to 4 after some early pressure after the restart. Looking to get back into the game, Dan Shea found Hus in space on the right hand side; his first time ball was met by Shaun, who again, just found the wrong side of the post.
On 54 minutes Tamworth extended their lead to 5 with the number 10 finishing first time after some good play down the Cadbury left. Cadbury introduced Casey Edwards on 64 minutes to replace Odane. Cadbury then engineered an opportunity of their own, with Dan Shea and Joe Busst exchanging passes in the middle before finding Hus out on the right. The ball in was met by Shaun, who’s first time attempt just cleared the bar.
Cadbury’s final substitution saw Kyle Elliot introduced in place of Jamale Mckenzie. Shortly after, a long ball from the Tamworth defence evaded the Cadbury back line, with the Tamworth 14 having the easy task of slotting away into an empty net to make it 6-0. The 7th followed shortly after, poor defending in the 18 yard box resulted in the ball falling to a Tamworth player to score another gift. Tamworth then turned the screw again in the last 10 minutes with the 8th and 9th being scored in the 85th and 90th minute. Some poor defending and decision making ensured it was a very comfortable afternoon for the visitors.
Time for the lads to regroup ahead of a visit to Redditch United Academy on the 12th October in the return Trophy game.

Cadbury Athletic Line Up;
1 Ricky Jones, 2 Temilade Ajimoko, 3 Jamale Mckenzie, 4 Ollie Statham ©, 5 Matt Kenny, 6 Luke Simpson, 7 Shaun Hunter, 8 Dan Shea, 9 Che O’Connor, 10 Joe Busst, 11 Odane Campbell
Subs – 12 Husein Mohamed, 14 Casey Edwards, 16 Kyle Dilworth-Elliot.