Glossop North End 4
Nantwich Town 3
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

For the second time in seven days, Nantwich crashed to defeat by lowly Glossop. On the edge of the Peak District, the Dabbers performance never peaked as their display lacked the quality that had been evident earlier in the season.
Credit where it’s due, though, and Glossop’s winner two minutes from time was probably just reward for their endeavours.
The game was something of an uphill struggle for The Dabbers who clawed their way back into the match from 3-1 down. A tenth minute lob by Elliot Prest had put the hosts ahead but Simon Mellor turned a Simon Hackney corner into his own goal on the half hour to level matters. Eight minutes later, Andy Sherlock rifled the home side ahead again and when Prest netted his second two minutes after the break following a mix up between Stuart Heeps and Lyndon Hall, it looked all over for Nantwich.
On 51 minutes, the arrears were reduced when Scott Westwood hooked home a ball from Ashley Lawton and Lawton himself had a chance to equalise when clean through with just Keeper Stuart Williams to beat. On 70 minutes, Vernum Rowland made it 3-3 when he latched on to a long ball from Westwood and lobbed Williams, and it looked as though the Dabbers would be returning home with a point.
However, the Hillmen stuck to their task and two minutes from time came the vital goal that will ease their relegation worries. Mark Gardiner was unable to stop a long cross finding Louis Bovis. The Glossop skipper clipped the ball back into the path of Paul Nibloe who thundered a volley past Heeps to spark celebration amongst the home players and fans. For Nantwich, though, it was a familiar tale of being unable to see off lowly opposition.
Glossop Williams, Nibloe, Levendis, Blow (Copson,80), Sherlock, Conlan (Dodd,85), Mellor, Bovis, Dean, Prest, Jordan. Booked: Mellor (44mins), Bovis (55mins)
Nantwich Heeps, McVey, Gardiner, Westwood, Hall, Vickers (Melling,55), Rowland, Knight, Harkness, Lawton (Brookes,84), Hackney. Booked: Knight (44mins), Vickers (52mins)
Star Man Melford Knight – Purposeful midfield performance

Match report written by Michael Chatwin