Warrington Town 2
Nantwich Town 3 (AET)
Cheshire Senior Cup (1st Round)

Match Report

DABBERS GET A BIT OF XTRA HELP

Warrington Town 2 Nantwich Town 3 (after extra time)
Cheshire Senior Cup 1st Round, Tuesday 16 September 2003

Nantwich cashed in on a bit of xtra help when Warrington centre-half Lee Riley turned the ball into his own goal to give the Dabbers an unlikely Senior Cup victory.
One goal down and one man down at the interval, the odds were stacked against Nantwich but they put in a performance of guts and determination which was ultimately rewarded with their passage through to the quarter-finals.
Nantwich had the better of the early exchanges but Warrington took the lead on 10 minutes in their first attack. The visitors’ defence was unable to deal with Andy Moore’s dangerous cross and the ball fell for Graeme Mitchell to net from 10 yards.
Melford Knight might as well start running the bath water before the start of the game and he had his customary early dip two minutes before the break. Referees literally seemed to have the Nantwich captain’s card marked and Melford’s fourth dismissal in seven games came when he received a second yellow for a late challenge, only two minutes after receiving his first for dissent.
Ten man Nantwich were fired up after the interval and they deservedly drew level on 57 minutes when Otis Thomas set up Ashley Lawton who drilled home into the corner of the net.
Within a minute, though, Warrington restored their lead when Moore latched on to a cross from the right.
The Dabbers showed commendable spirit in sticking to the task and got their just desserts on 82 minutes when the impressive Dave Thomasson slalomed down the right and pulled the ball back for Thomas to slide home.
Thomas missed a golden opportunity to claim victory in the last minute of normal time but 13 minutes into extra time Riley volleyed a corner into his own net to give the Dabbers a superb victory. As the ten men tired late on, the hosts almost sneaked a late equaliser but a world class reflex save from Simon Pay ensured the Dabbers prevailed. A truly stirring performance from the ten men in green.
Warrington McCormack, Baker, Tague, Nestor (Tickle,110), Ashton, Riley, Latham, Bermingham, Cavanagh (P.Mitchell,75), G.Mitchell, Moore.
Nantwich Pay, Thomasson, Maguire, Hall, Packham, Vickers (Gleghorn,70), Brookes, Knight, Thomas, Wilkinson (Lawton,h-t), Griggs (Redfern,h-t). Booked: Wilkinson (25mins), Knight (42mins), Vickers (55mins). Sent Off: Knight (44mins)

Match report written by Michael Chatwin