Nantwich Town 3
Skelmersdale United 2
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

Nantwich stuck to the task to record only their second home league victory since the opening day of the season. The win, though, lifted the Dabbers to eighth place in the table and prevented their visitors climbing to second.
As in previous games, Nantwich struggled after their opponents had been reduced to 10 men. Skem had to play 70 minutes with ten men after John Brownrigg was given a straight red on 20 minutes for an horrific challenge on Dale Melling, and they ended up with just nine on the pitch for the last two minutes after Peter Holcroft was also dismissed for some choice comments to the linesman.
Two goals by Wes Wilkinson had seen the Dabbers 2-0 up with 27 minutes on the clock. The first, scored on 2 minutes was a neat lob over keeper Robbie Holcroft and Wilkinson struck again to convert a Melling cross after a neat lay off from Jon Dawson.
Nigel Gleghorn had a header cleared off the line but then 10 man Skem took control. Marksman Stuart Rudd spurned three chances before the break but, on the hour mark, Rudd made amends with two goals in as many minutes to level the scores at 2-2.
Stuart Heeps made a top drawer save to deny David Dugdale and this seemed to inspire Nantwich. Gleghorn curled a free kick narrowly wide and, with ten minutes remaining, Dawson snatched a home win firing home after Skem failed to clear a corner.
Nantwich Heeps, McVey, Gardiner (Vickers,89), Packham, Gleghorn, Hall, Brookes, Knight, Dawson, Wilkinson (Hampshire,84), Melling (Maguire 51). Booked: Knight (46mins), Gleghorn (83mins)
Skelmersdale Robbie Holcroft, Price, Stanton, Standley, Brownrigg, Carroll (Osman,85), Peter Holcroft, Horrigan, Rudd, Dugdale (Dodd,87), Barton. Booked: Price (77mins) Sent Off: Brownrigg (18mins), Peter Holcroft (89mins)
Star Man Nigel Gleghorn – Another quality display by the player-boss

Match report written by Michael Chatwin