Salford City 2
Nantwich Town 2
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

A well-deserved draw at high-flying Salford confirmed Nantwich’s credentials as serious challengers for the NWCFL title.
Against a backdrop of an autumnal rainbow, the Dabbers contributed to a colourful match which could have gone either way.
Certainly, Nantwich started the brighter and had already hit the bar through both Dale Melling and Melford Knight before Wes Wilkinson fired them into a 9th minute lead with an unstoppable drive.
Salford, though, are an impressive outfit and after concerted pressure before and after the interval, they turned the game round with two goals in as many minutes. First Mattie Hughes crashed a header past Stuart Heeps on 55 minutes and then Chris Willcock put the Manchester side ahead when he nipped between Heeps and Nigel Gleghorn to head home.
Eight minutes later, though, it was all square again when Gareth Brookes netted from a sharp angle following a clever free kick from player-boss Gleghorn. The Dabbers could have secured all the points but the hard-working Jon Dawson failed to get a shot in when well placed and, in the last minute, the home post was rattled by a Gleghorn header.
With players still to return from injury, the result and performance will give Gleghorn optimism that, come rain or shine, his young side may yet find that crock of NWCFL gold next May.
Salford Melville, Cullen, McNicholl, Greenhalgh, D Brown (Gardner,h-t), Cunningham, Francis Vaughan, Gary Vaughan, Willcock, Giggs, Hughes (Graham Vaughan,80). Booked: Hughes (18mins), Greenhalgh (27mins), Giggs (70mins), Gary Vaughan (72mins)
Nantwich Heeps, Rowland, Gardiner, Packham, Gleghorn, Vickers (Maguire,64), Brookes, Knight, Dawson (Hough,80), Wilkinson, Melling. Booked: None
Star Man: Vernum Rowland Distinguished second half performance at right back

Match report written by Michael Chatwin