Atherton LR 5
Nantwich Town 6
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

6-5: YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS !

6-5 away wins should come but once in a football fan’s lifetime. But Nantwich fans who witnessed a victory by that scoreline at Woodley Sports last season watched in disbelief as their favourites chalked up another 6-5 away win at the chilly confines of Crilly Park. As at the Woodley debacle, Ashley Lawton was the Dabbers’ saviour. His brace (one less than his haul at Lambeth Grove) proved an unlikely requirement to secure victory after Nantwich seemed to be cruising to victory, 5-1 up with five minutes remaining. But what happened in those five minutes (plus a couple of added time) is probably more than a Wimbledon football fan gets to feast on in a full season. An away goal, a missed penalty for the home side and four home goals including one from a 17 year old keeper who had journeyed up for a last ditch corner a la Jimmy Glass. At least with a crowd of only 63, no-one had to leave early to avoid the car park queues.
Nantwich had started well. Mark Maguire looked threatening down the left wing and he was bundled down in the box by Callaghan after cleverly turning his man. Skipper Mark Gardiner stepped up to convert the eighth minute spot kick with Ashley Timms getting a decent hand on the ball – the nearest he came to making a save all afternoon.
Tim Alexander chipped the ball on to the bar in the 13th minute but Danny Griggs collected it and from his cross Anthony Buckle headed his first goal of the season to make it 2-0.
Timms, who has apparently been watched by Manchester City, gaffed in the 22nd and 35th minute to present Nantwich with a somewhat flattering 4-0 half-time lead. On both occasions, the hapless youngster made David Seaman flaps at harmless crosses – Griggs and then Maguire taking the Ronaldhino role.
After the break, LR had the benefit of a hefty slope and when they pulled a goal back on 54 minutes thanks to Ben Obong’s looping header, the game threatened to turn into a match. Obong, whose movement caused the Nantwich defence some problems, dragged a shot wide soon after but, just after the hour mark, the Dabbers restored their four goal advantage. A quick free kick from Griggs played in Lawton who fired past Timms from 12 yards. Game, set and match to Nantwich – or so it seemed.
12 minutes from time Steve Jardine hobbled off with a tight hamstring to be replaced by Jamie Phoenix. A couple of minutes later Danny Griggs made way for young Steve Redfern to have a deserved run out; Nantwich boss, Nigel Gleghorn, no doubt thinking like the other 62 of us, the game safely in the bag.
Five minutes from time and thoughts start wandering to getting some light refreshment to warm up the bones from the arctic Atherton afternoon. Seemingly the Nantwich players were there too. Gleghorn, enduring a one-match suspension (what a one to pick !), looked on helplessly as his charges caved in during a bizarre finale. Initially Simon Pay heroically beat away Keith Hannon’s penalty kick after a reckless lunge from Alexander looked to have set up a late Atherton consolation. That consolation did come from the resultant corner, though, Jason Kay heading home to make it 5-2.
Not content with one consolation goal, LR got another in the 88th minute; another near post header – this time courtesy of substitute Mark Westworth’s forehead.
Three consolation goals and, really, they start becoming more than consoling - Simon Band on hand to make it 5-4 and LR now think they can complete a miraculous comeback that John McEnroe would have been proud of.
But, a minute later, Nantwich make it 6-4. Jon Dawson’s header down falls at the feet of Lawton who pokes the ball into the net from 10 yards. Last laugh to Nantwich.
Or is it ? Second minute of stoppage time and LR force a corner. Timms rushes upfield in a blonde streak. Lo and behold the keeper makes amends for his earlier gaffes with a crisp half volley that finds the back of the net courtesy of a deflection past the unsighted Pay.
At last the whistle blows - and it is, finally, game set and match to Nantwich at 6-5. One more goal from LR and we would, indeed, have been in to the tie-break.
Atherton LR Timms, Pollitt (Dunthorne,h-t), McNair, Callaghan, Wynne, Curley, Strange (Westworth,72), Kay, Obong (Cavanagh,78), Hannon, Band. Booked: Timms (73mins), McNair (75mins)
Nantwich Pay, Hall, Gardiner, Alexander, Jardine (Phoenix,78), Buckle, Griggs (Redfern,80), Melling, Dawson, Lawton, Maguire. Booked: Dawson (52mins)

Match report written by Michael Chatwin