Nantwich Town 3
Newcastle Town 0
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

DABBERS’ DERBY DOUBLE

Nantwich Town 3, Newcastle Town 0
NWCFL Division 1, 24 March 2004

Nantwich chalked up a midweek derby double for South Cheshire over their Potteries rivals with a comfortable 3-0 win over neighbours Newcastle. Inspired by Crewe Alex’s 2-0 win over Stoke the night before, the Dabbers’ derby delight was never in doubt after goal poacher Ashley Lawton stabbed them into a 38th minute lead. Lawton had seen a shot booted off the line ten minutes earlier but he made no mistake with a close range tap in after former Nantwich custodian Chris Holmes spilled Danny Griggs’ free kick.
Nantwich had former Salford and Flixton front man Nathan Comley-Excell making his debut and the man with the big name was a big presence in unsettling the visitors’ defence. On the stroke of half-time, the debutant rose to flick on Griggs’ cross into the path of Melford Knight whose inch perfect lob over Holmes nestled into the back of the net to give the Dabbers a 2-0 interval lead.
‘Castle could have pulled a goal back straight after the break but substitute Kiely was unable to connect with Andy Bott’s cross. Kiely fizzed a 25 yarder over the bar and Bott should have netted with a close range header before Nantwich made the game safe in the 76th minute. David Woodvine tripped Griggs in the box and skipper Mark Gardiner crashed home the spot kick.
Having denied both sides decent penalty claims in the first half, referee Mr Smallwood went card-crazy as the hosts’ defence closed out ‘Castle in the final stages. Four home players and three visitors were booked in a game that was never dirty but which saw the Dabbers chalk up a deserved win – their first in five attempts at Jackson Avenue.

Nantwich Heeps, Hall, Gardiner, Alexander, Davis, Hughes, Griggs, Knight, Comley-Excell (Caines,77), Lawton, Melling (Gleghorn,70). Booked: Griggs (60mins), Melling (65mins), Knight (83mins), Hughes (86mins)
Newcastle Holmes, Woodvine, Banks, Sandeman, Gillick, Weston (Kiely,h-t), Miller, Beasley, Lennon (Wilkes,82), Bott, Parkinson. Booked: Sandeman (76mins), Bott (82mins), Beasley (86mins).

Match report written by Michael Chatwin