Nantwich Town 2
St.Helens Town 1
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

Nantwich chalked up an impressive victory against St Helens – banishing The Blues they had suffered losing at home to lowly Glossop just three days earlier.
The Dabbers might have thought it was a case of deja-vu when they saw the Saints line up in an all-blue strip identical to that worn by Glossop. But on this occasion, it was the home side who turned the tables. Whereas Glossop had come from behind to register a 2-1 win, this time it was Nantwich’s turn to claim a 2-1 victory after being a goal behind.
For the first half hour the visitors had the upper hand and they took the lead on 20 minutes. Ian Lowe’s long goalkick caught out the Nantwich defence and when the ball was pulled back from the right, Chris Bermingham was free to slot past Stuart Heeps with ease.
But rather than wilt, the deficit spurned the Dabbers into action. They took control for the remainder of the game, claiming an equaliser on 38 minutes. A quick free-kick from Mark Gardiner freed Simon Hackney wide on the left and when Lowe failed to punch clear his long cross, Melford Knight was on hand to head home.
Lowe saved from Adam Vickers and Lyndon Hall just before the break but, on 73 minutes Ashley Lawton gave the Dabbers a deserved lead with a goal of rare quality. Latching on to Hackney’s sliderule pass, the talented youngster tricked inside and outside two defenders before slipping a measured shot past the advancing Lowe into the corner of the net.
The Nantwich midfield and defence stifled any response from the visitors as the Dabbers cruised to a victory which saw them leapfrog their opponents into seventh place in the table.
Nantwich Heeps, McVey, Gardiner, Westwood, Hall, Vickers, Rowland, Knight, Harkness (Melling,85), Lawton, Hackney. Booked: Rowland (70mins)
St Helens Lowe, Salt, Molloy (Nestor,5), Evans, Nolan, Bell (Mitchell,39), Blakeman, Quirk, Heavey (Wilde,68), Dugdale, Bermingham. Booked: Bermingham (47mins), Evans (67mins), Blakeman (77mins)
Star Man Melford Knight – Determined midfield performance; deserved his goal.
Attendance 75

Match report written by Michael Chatwin