Atherton LR 0
Nantwich Town 1
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

Atherton LR 0 Nantwich Town 1
NWCFL Division 1, Saturday 28 August 2004

Debut boy Paul Rutter fired Nantwich to victory with a late strike to notch up the Dabbers first league win of the campaign.
The striker, on loan from Stafford Rangers, latched on to a through ball from Michael Owen before drilling past LR keeper Colin Flood five minutes from time.
With Steve Davis marshalling Atherton dangerman Barry Massey out of the game, the visitors looked solid at the back and LR were restricted to few chances. When they did create openings, Danny Reade was on hand to pull off a couple of decent saves – blocking an early effort from Paul Crompton and denying Phil Howard with a reflex save soon after the re-start.
In fact, LR had the better of the early exchanges as the Nantwich midfield struggled to adapt to an uneven surface. But, as the first half wore on, the Dabbers came into the game and Melford Knight almost chipped Flood after a clever interchange with Danny Griggs.
Soon after, Knight should have broken the deadlock but couldn’t direct his volley under the bar and Melvyn Morrison then warmed Flood’s hands with a thudding 25-yarder.
Ashley Lawton broke through but couldn’t get power behind his shot as the Dabbers started to dictate play after the interval. Griggs had a wayward shot but then went close on 70 minutes when he curled the ball just wide of the upright. The Nantwich skipper almost got on the scoresheet five minutes later but his shot, from Rutter’s pull-back, was deflected wide.
Then came the decisive goal with Rutter showing composure in his finishing to cap an impressive debut display. As LR threw men forward in search of an equaliser, the Dabbers closed out the game to chalk up the victory.
Referee Mr Waring kept good control of the game throughout and didn’t resort to a single card. The match may have been a bit scrappy at times but Crilly Park is becoming something of a happy hunting ground for Nantwich with a third win there in as many seasons. The 1-0 win may not have been as exciting as previous 6-5 and 4-0 truimphs but Head Coach Steve Davis will be more than satisfied that it still counts for three points on the board.
Atherton LR Flood, Donnelly, McNair, Callaghan, Wynne (Band,60), Lucas, Settle, Curley, Massey, Howard, Crompton.
Nantwich Reade, Pullar, Beattie, Davis, Jardine, Owen, Griggs, Knight, Lawton (Santus,80), Rutter, Melling (Morrison,31).

PHOTO: LR's Barry Massey shields the ball from Dabbers' player-manager Steve Davis.

Match report written by Michael Chatwin