Nantwich Town 3
Winsford United 1
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

After an even first half, Nantwich dominated the second period to claim the festive scalp of their neighbours. In the end, the Dabbers could have racked up more than three goals in a tough derby battle that saw a poor Winsford side crash to their eighth league defeat on the trot.
The first half had seen a bit of a Boxing Day boxing match with Nantwich’s Wes Wilkinson sparring with United’s Glen Attuquayefio. Referee Mr Smallwood from Northwich sought to intervene but was struck to the canvas from a flailing hand to the face from the Winsford centre-back. After lengthy treatment, Mr Smallwood returned to his feet and the two combatants were both lucky to escape with yellow cards.
By that time, the score was already 1-1. Simon Hackney had punched Nantwich into the lead on 14 minutes, latching on to a square ball from Jon Dawson but a sucker punch three minutes later pulled the visitors level. Tom Shaughnessy had a shot blocked on the line but from the rebound, Dale Melling put through his own goal in trying to clear.
After the interval, it was only a matter of time before Nantwich restored their lead. Andy Robertson saved well from a close ranger header from Nigel Gleghorn and an Adam Vickers’ piledriver was just over the bar.
On the hour mark, a line ball from Lyndon Hall found Wilkinson on the right and he shuffled inside Ray Beer and squeezed a left foot drive into the corner of the net from the edge of the box.
Chris Hampshire and Hackney had chances to increase the lead but the knockout blow was delivered fifteen minutes from time by Gareth Brookes who slipped in at the near post to make it 3-1.
Winsford rallied late on and Danny Graystone and Les Miranda both had chances to reduce the deficit but by then it was clear to a disappointingly small Boxing Day crowd that Winsford were already out for the count.
Nantwich Pay, Hall, Gardiner, McVey, Gleghorn, Melling, Brookes (Lawton, 77), Vickers (Thomasson, 84), Dawson (Hampshire, 66), Wilkinson, Hackney. Booked: Wilkinson (34mins)
Winsford Robertson, Staley, Duckworth, Attuquayefio, Beer, Walker, Kelly, Lamb, Williams (P Shaughnessy, 79), Graystone, Williams (T Shaughnessy, 10; Miranda, 79). Booked: Attuquayefio (34mins), Williams (36mins), Graystone (56mins)
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Match report written by Michael Chatwin