Nantwich Town 0
Arnold Town 3
FA Cup (2nd Round Qualifying)

Match Report

A depleted Dabbers side turned in a disappointing display to get dumped out of the Cup at the hands of their Nottinghamshire visitors. Their thirteenth game of the season proved unlucky for Nantwich who failed to find the back of the net for the first time in this campaign.
The Dabbers had started brightly with Jon Dawson firing over and Gareth Brookes flicking a header over the bar from Nigel Gleghorn’s quick free kick. On 12 minutes, Nantwich should have taken the lead but in an almighty goalmouth scramble, Dawson was unable to apply the finishing touch after Brookes’ shot was blocked.
From then on, it was downhill for the Dabbers whose passing constantly went astray and who looked out of sorts against an Arnold side who looked more determined to progress in the competition. Stuart Heeps kept Nantwich in the game with saves from Russell Shepherd and Malcolm Brown whilst Darren Bogan shot wide after leaving the home defence in tatters and Shepherd failed to capitalise on a free header after good work on the left by Brown.
A half-time roasting by player-boss Gleghorn seemed to have done the trick when Wes Wilkinson showed skill in the penalty box to set up Adam Vickers but he cleared the bar with an empty goal gaping. After that, though, it was one way traffic with Brown and Bogan causing the sluggish home defence problems down the flanks and Shepherd posing a constant threat in the centre.
It was no surprise, then, when Shepherd put Arnold ahead midway through the half when he controlled a ball from Hung Huynh and shot on the turn to leave Heeps stranded. The visitors increased their lead on 78 minutes when substitute David Wilkins slotted the ball into the top corner of the net from a tight angle and Man of the Match Shepherd completed the rout a minute from time, fastening on to a through ball from Wilkins.
In front of the biggest crowd of the season, it was a stangely lacklustre performance from a Nantwich side that failed to match Arnold’s endeavour and enterprise.
Nantwich Heeps, Travis (Hall, 56), Melling, Packham, McVey, Vickers (Bailey, 65), Brookes, Knight, Dawson, Gleghorn, Wilkinson. Bookings-none
Arnold Broster, Davey, Williams, Back, Belcher, Boulter, Bogan (Milner, 90), Shepherd, Brown, Simpson (Wilkins, 75), Huynh (Coke, 88). Bookings-none
Star Man Stuart Heeps - First half display kept Nantwich in with a chance

Match report written by Michael Chatwin