Tamworth vs Stoke City U21

Dyson opened the scoring with a crisp volley after a spell of Tamworth pressure. The young Stoke side responded well and levelled through a finish from their number eight, briefly silencing the home crowd.

Tamworth regained the lead before half-time when Jake Hutchinson slotted in — his first goal since joining the club this summer. The striker then turned provider when his shot was blocked, only for Tom McGlinchey to pounce on the rebound and hammer in a volley to make it 3-1.

The second half was more subdued, with Tamworth controlling possession and creating several further chances — Dan Creaney hit the crossbar — but unable to add to the tally.

Stoke had momentum after their equaliser, but the quick response from Hutchinson — restoring Tamworth's lead inside the same half — took the wind out of the visitors' sails. McGlinchey's third goal before the interval effectively settled the contest.

• Oliver Dyson: Opened his Tamworth account with a composed volley, showing sharp movement in the box.
• Jake Hutchinson: Scored his first goal for the club and was involved in the build-up to the third. A promising display from the new signing (“First Tamworth goals for Oliver Dyson and Jake Hutchinson help The Lambs to another win this pre season” — Tamworth FC, 18 July 2026 via X).
• Tom McGlinchey: The midfielder's second-half volley from a rebound capped a dominant midfield performance.
• Dan Creaney: Hit the crossbar in the second half and was a constant threat.

Player of the match: Jake Hutchinson — a goal and an assist, with energetic all-round play.

The provider payload did not include detailed match statistics (xG, shots, possession), so a full statistical breakdown is unavailable. However, Tamworth’s 3-1 scoreline reflected their dominance from the first whistle, with the hosts creating the clearer chances throughout. The match was played at a typical pre-season tempo, with hydration breaks in both halves. The half-time score was 2-1 (source: SoccerPunter H2H data).

Tamworth’s pre-season record now stands at two wins from three matches (Walton & Hersham 2-1, Port Vale 0-5, Stoke City U21 3-1). The Lambs continue their build-up at home against Aston Villa U21s on Tuesday 21 July (19:45 BST), followed by a trip to Halesowen Town on 25 July and a home fixture against Macclesfield FC on 28 July before the 2026/27 National League season begins (source: Tamworth FC official website).

For Stoke City U21, this was part of a pre-season programme that includes five non-league opponents as they prepare for the 2026/27 Professional Development League campaign (source: Stoke City U21 fixture announcement via Facebook).

A professional and efficient performance from Tamworth, who responded exactly as Peaks wanted after the Port Vale defeat. The new signings — Dyson and Hutchinson — look like shrewd additions, while McGlinchey continues to be a reliable presence in midfield. Stoke’s young side had moments but lacked the cutting edge to trouble the hosts after the break.