Nantwich Town 1
Wroxham 3
FA Vase (4th Round)

Match Report

YACHTSMEN SAIL PAST DABBERS

Wroxham killed off Nantwich’s Vase dream with an effective performance orchestrated by the inspirational Matty Neale. In a pulsating tie, Nantwich started the better but eventually succumbed to the Norfolk side’s superior finishing.
Ashley Lawton was handed top scorer Wes Wilkinson’s number 10 shirt and the youngster looked lively throughout. He almost carved out an opening in the first five minutes and then his low cross just eluded the outstretched Jon Dawson with the Wroxham goal at his mercy. After soaking up early pressure, the Yachtsmen signalled their intent on the quarter hour but Gavin Lemmon lashed his volley wide. As play flowed from end to end, Steve Jardine headed Danny Griggs’ corner over the bar and then Lawton and Jamie Phoenix combined well to set up Lyndon Hall whose fierce strike also cleared the bar. At the other end, Simon Pay was forced to block Neale on the stroke of half-time.
Two minutes after the interval, Gary McGee broke the deadlock for the Eastern Counties League outfit. The Dabbers’ defence was caught wrong-footed when Russell Stock slipped a ball through to the former Chelmsford marksman who made no mistake from 12 yards out. Nantwich responded immediately and were level two minutes later. Phoenix was hacked down on the edge of the penalty area and, with the Wroxham defence busily organising, Griggs cheekily stepped up to curl the free-kick home with keeper Ryan Lemmon hopelessly out of position.
The tie could have gone either way and Griggs was unlucky not to give Nantwich the lead when he dragged his shot wide from Dawson’s nod down. But, it was Wroxham who went 2-1 up just after the hour mark. Neale outwitted Mark Gardiner and Nigel Gleghorn wide on the right and he cut inside to collect a return ball from Stock before driving past Pay from a narrow angle.
Never-say-day Nantwich battled hard in search of an equaliser, roared on by a near 300 crowd. Lawton’s shot drifted wide of the post and Tim Alexander, replacing the injured Steve Davis on his return from Kidsgrove, shaved the crossbar with a thunderous 30 yarder.
But the Norfolk side kept their composure and sealed victory eight minutes from time. In a race for the ball, Pay rushed out of his goal and upended McGee what looked to be just outside the penalty area. However, the assistant referee indicated a penalty and although the diving Pay got a hand to the Stock’s spot kick he couldn’t stop the Wroxham striker registering his 32nd goal of the campaign.
For Nantwich, it was a disappointing end to an enthralling game which could have gone either way. The 3-1 victory means that the Yachtsmen sail through to the last 16, leaving mid-table Nantwich little to fight for in the remainder of the season.

Nantwich Pay, Hall, Gardiner, Alexander, Jardine, Buckle, Griggs, Gleghorn, Dawson, Lawton, Phoenix (Melling,70). Booked: Alexander (28mins), Pay (82mins), Gardiner (89mins)
Wroxham R.Lemmon, Pauling, Carus, McNeil, Johnson (Hartle,57), Edridge, G.Lemmon, Fox, Stock, McGee, Neale (Hunton,86).

Match report written by Michael Chatwin