Nantwich Town 1
Ramsbottom United 1
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

NANTWICH GROUND DOWN

Nantwich Town 1, Ramsbottom United 1
NWCFL Division 1, 6 March 2004

After the euphoria of the announcement of the million pound grant towards their new ground, Nantwich were brought back down to earth with a dismal draw at Jackson Avenue.
Nigel Gleghorn’s charges looked distinctly out of sorts after a three week lay-off and they lacked the passion to overcome a Ramsbottom side who showed greater conviction.
The lowly visitors had the better of the first period but it was Nantwich who should have gone into the interval with scores on the board. Ashley Lawton shot tamely from close range from Gleghorn’s flick header and the youngster rounded keeper Paul Eatock only to see his goalbound efforted booted out by Iain Dyson. Gareth Gardiner’s sizzling 25 yarder grazed the home crossbar then, on the stroke of half time, a desperate lunge by Ged Walsh thwarted Jon Dawson after Lawton’s low cross had beaten Eatock.
In the second period, Walsh had a header tipped away by Stuart Heeps before the Dabbers went 1-0 up on 50 minutes. Mark Stewart tripped Dawson as he charged towards goal and, from the spot kick, Mark Gardiner crashed Nantwich into the lead.
Rammy should have been level straight afterwards but Matt Swailes blazed wide when well placed but the striker made amends on 65 minutes. Stewart’s free kick down the line found Gareth Gardiner and his raking cross was headed home by Swailes at the back stick.
Substitute Robbie Smith had a snap-shot at Heeps when he could have given the Lancashire outfit the lead and the Dabbers were denied a winner when Gleghorn’s header came back off the upright five minutes from time.
A home win would have been unfair on Ramsbottom and, with the Dabbers front play lacking menace, a scoreline repeating the season’s earlier encounter at the Riverside Ground was a fair outcome.
Nantwich Heeps, Hall, M.Gardiner, Alexander, Jardine, Buckle, Griggs, Gleghorn, Dawson (Maguire,62), Lawton, Melling. Booked: Alexander (89mins)
Ramsbottom Eatock, Raywood, Walsh (Goodall,70), Dyson, Stewart, Boden (Farrell,75), G.Gardiner, Clark, Saunders, Swailes, Hayes (Smith,75) . Booked: Clark (44mins), Walsh (64mins).

Match report written by Michael Chatwin