Warrington Town 1
Nantwich Town 1
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

TEN MEN DABBERS HIT BACK

Warrington Town 1 Nantwich Town 1
NWCFL Division 1, Tuesday 13 April 2004

For the second time this season, Nantwich came from behind with ten men to claim a draw with their Cheshire rivals. In the early part of the season, the Dabbers even went on to claim the Yellows’ scalp in extra time in the Cheshire Senior Cup. And, on this occasion, it was never-say-die Nantwich who were the team pushing for a late winner.
The draw threatens to upset Warrington’s promotion juggernaut and was gained after centre back Tim Alexander was given his marching orders for picking up a second yellow card for dissent just before the hour mark.
At that stage, a Nantwich rally seemed unlikely. Warrington target man Mike Heverin had given the home outfit the lead scarcely ten minutes earlier when his seemingly harmless low drive squirmed under the body of Nantwich keeper Stuart Heeps. The Dabbers almost snatched an immediate equaliser. Steve Davis’ back header from a corner on the right hit the inside of the post but cruelly rebounded into the arms of the waiting Terry O’Hanlon.
Facing an uphill struggle after the dismissal of the influential Alexander, Ashley Lawton hooked the ball over the bar on the hour mark but, at the other end, the hosts came close to extending their lead.
Moores should have got more power behind his tame shot from the right and Dale Melling was called on to make a last ditch tackle on Steve Latham as he prepared to pull the trigger.
The Dabbers responded with determination, though, and a tasty flick from Lee Hughes set up Tom Caines whose low shot was saved by O’Hanlon at full stretch. The two youngsters combined again on 84 minutes when player-boss Nigel Gleghorn clipped the ball to Hughes wide on the right. Hughes was able to deliver a threatening low ball across the danger zone and Caines rushed in to stab home his first goal for Nantwich.
Even then, the Dabbers could have gone on to win the game with Hughes cutting in from the right but O’Hanlon was able to smoother his effort from a tight angle.

Warrington O’Hanlon, Farrell, Smith, Barnhill, Riley (Nulty,80), Jones, Tickle, Latham, Heverin, Moores (Mitchell,70), Harkness (Bermingham,66) Booked: Farrell (68mins), Tickle (78mins)
Nantwich Heeps, Hall, Gardiner (Parkinson,80), Alexander, Davis, Hughes, Lawton (Redfern,63), Knight, Gleghorn, Caines, Melling. Booked: Alexander (28mins), Knight (78mins) Sent Off: Alexander (55mins)

Match report written by Michael Chatwin