Nantwich Town 1
Atherton Collieries 1
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

It was a frustrating afternoon for Nantwich player-boss Nigel Gleghorn. A hamstring injury kept the ex-Stoke man from playing and he was limited to bellowing instructions from the touchline as his side failed to get the measure of lowly Atherton.
The Dabbers were unable to hit the target in the opening period though leading scorer Wes Wilkinson twice rattled the crossbar – the first a 25 yard piledriver on 10 minutes. In fact, the visitors had the best chance of the first half when Nick Fisher pulled his shot wide with only Stuart Heeps to beat.
The visitors contributed to an enterprising game and, as the heavens opened in the second half, they took the lead with Fisher atoning for his earlier miss on 58 minutes.
Nantwich, though, stuck to the task and secured a deserved point thanks to a Beckhamesque free kick from Mark Gardiner, 25 yards out, which left Dave Johnson grasping at thin air in the Collieries’ goal.
In the final quarter hour, both sides had chances to grab the points in a thrilling finale. Heeps twice saved well from Matt Swailes whilst, at the other end, Chris Hampshire unleashed a drive which the impressive Johnson kept out at full stretch. Atherton, though, had the best chance when a penalty was awarded for a clumsy challenge on Ross McNair. They were denied again by Heeps who got down well to save Fisher’s spot kick - which at least gave Gleghorn something to shout about.
Nantwich Heeps, Hall, Gardiner, Packham (Hackney,65), McVey, Buckle, Brookes (Hampshire,55), Knight, Dawson, Wilkinson, Melling.
Booked: McVey (65mins), Hackney (67mins)
Atherton Colls Johnson, Rhodes, Roberts, Callaghan, McNair, Hill (Riley,80), Leacock, O’Shaunnessy, Fisher, Peters, Swailes.
Booked: Roberts (11mins), McNair (67mins), O’Shaunnessy (71mins)
Star Man Mark Gardiner – Captain’s performance capped by superb equaliser
Attendance 90

Match report written by Michael Chatwin