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

Match Report

NANTWICH TOWN 1 CONGLETON TOWN 1
NWCFL Div 1 – 23 Oct 2004

The Dabbers and the Bears slugged out a hard fought draw in a derby game played on a heavy surface at rainswept Jackson Avenue. The conditions made slick football difficult but both sides gave their all and a share of the spoils was a fair outcome.
Congleton fans thought their side had taken an early lead when Brian Burns turned in the penalty area but his shot was into the side netting. Nantwich responded with Paul Santus firing wide from 20 yards and Danny Griggs was unable to direct a free header on target.
After an even opening 25 minutes, the visitors stepped up a gear and put the home defence under sustained pressure. The troublesome Scott Murcott shrugged off Steve Jardine and played in Burns but Chris Morris did well to ensure the striker’s effort was deflected over the bar. Another lunging challenge by Morris denied Burns after the burly marksman had been set up by Mark Jones and centre half Stephen Maddocks should have broken the deadlock but his free header from close in was wide of the mark.
The Dabbers hit back and a slide rule pass from Santus looked to have put Ashley Lawton clear only for Congleton keeper Ryan McMahon to come racing out of his area to upend the Nantwich man – and earn a yellow card. Griggs’ curling free-kick was tipped round the upright by McMahon and, from the corner, Jardine headed wide.
With the interval approaching Scott Williams scuttled down the right but there was no white shirt to capitalise on his pull back and then Murcott cleverly set up Burns and his skidding drive from the edge of the box was neatly turned past the post by home keeper Danny Reade. From the corner, Reade comfortably held Ian Burquest’s looping header to ensure the teams went in goalless at half-time.
Ten minutes after the re-start the Dabbers made the breakthrough when the hard-working Griggs clipped in a cross from the left and Santus’s inch-perfect glancing header beat the flailing McMahon from 12 yards out. Paul Rutter almost added a second when he cut inside Burquest but he drove wide of the post.
The visitors then rallied and, on the hour mark, Williams sent in a measured cross from the left which Murcott met with a powerful header only for Reade to acrobatically tip onto the bar and Andy Parkinson cleared the danger. Burns should have equalised five minutes later but Reade spread himself well to thwart the luckless striker.
As play continued end-to-end at a furious pace, Rutter shaved the post with a strike from the edge of the area and, shortly after, was unable to connect properly when Lawton pulled a low cross into the danger area.
The Dabbers appeared to be holding on for a hard earned victory when, ten minutes, from time the referee adjudged Steve Davis as using his arm just inside the penalty area to block a shot from substitute Jamie Petrie. Williams clinical spot kick gave Reade no chance.
Nantwich finished the stronger with Adam Newton, on his full debut, blazing over after Griggs’ corner had only been partly cleared and Jardine saw his header flash wide of the upright from another free-kick from Griggs.
Nantwich: Reade, Morris, Parkinson, Davis, Jardine, Santus, Brough (Blake,85), Newton, Rutter, Lawton, Griggs. Booked: Rutter (67mins), Morris 84mins).

Match report written by Michael Chatwin