Nantwich Town 2
Abbey Hey 2
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

Nantwich had to settle for a point after scotching a glut of chances in a match that saw their winless streak stretch to five games.
In an even first half, Danny Griggs was a constant threat down the right but neither Ashley Lawton nor Wes Wilkinson were able to convert his long crosses to the back post.
In fact, it was the visitors who drew first blood when Wilkinson lost possession and Dave Thomasson scythed down Abbey skipper Danny Graystone on the edge of the box. Up stepped Carlos Meakin to drive the free kick through the Nantwich wall and past the unsighted Stuart Heeps.
Sammy Baker’s goalline clearance thwarted Lawton and, after the break, the Nantwich striker’s header was off-target from another Griggs danger cross.
Just before the hour mark, two goals in a minute looked to have set up the Dabbers for an elusive win. Jon Dawson cleverly lobbed Andy Moores from 20 yards then Wilkinson broke past three defenders and drilled into the corner of the net.
Nantwich failed to kill off the game with Moores denying Melford Knight when he was clean through and they paid the price on 76 minutes. Paul Dowle fired Abbey’s equaliser past the outstretched Heeps after the home defence had failed to clear a corner.
Knight then had an effort blocked by Moores and, at the other end, Joe Metz and Meakin had chances to clinch a late win for the Manchester side but, overall, a draw seemed a fair reflection of the game.
Nantwich Heeps, Thomasson (Parkinson,55), Maguire, Hall, Jardine, Vickers (Tainton,82), Griggs, Knight, Dawson, Lawton (Rowland,68), Wilkinson. Booked: None
Abbey Hey Moores, Yates, Phieffer, Jones, Dowle, Baker (Robinson,48), Graystone, Meakin, Bailey (Metz,82), Hayder (Ohandjanian,74), Tilley. Booked: None

Match report written by Michael Chatwin