Nantwich Town 4
Bacup Borough 0
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

NANTWICH TOWN 4 BACUP BOROUGH 0
NWCFL Div 1 – 30 Oct 2004

Former Northern Ireland international Jimmy Quinn helped inspire Nantwich to an impressive victory over second in the table Bacup. The Dabbers blend of youth and experience proved an explosive mix that Bacup, themselves with ex-Manchester United star David May and veteran former Bolton keeper David Felgate in their ranks, were unable to handle. The fact the Nantwich rammed four goals past a defence that had only conceded 8 times in 16 games this season was a measure of the Dabbers’ achievement and May, strutting his stuff in the Premiership little more than 4 seasons ago, was made to look distinctly ordinary by Nantwich’s clever movement and incisive passing.
As soon as Nantwich took the lead on 30 minutes, there was only going to be one winner but – up to that point – the Lancastrians looked the stronger. Nantwich keeper Danny Read is maturing with every game and the youngster pulled off a super reflex save to block a venomous strike from Jamie Bates with just 10 minutes gone. Darren Emmett then bamboozled Chris Morris with a mazy run into the box but Read again came to the Dabbers rescue, plucking out the ball as it headed for the top corner.
Emmett headed wide after a cross from the left floated over Steve Davis and Richard Pullar then, with, their first real chance, Nantwich broke the deadlock. Quinn cleverly played in Ashley Lawton and his cross was crashed home by Paul Rutter.
With Nantwich anxiously awaiting the half-time whistle Lee Wilkinson laid the ball off for Emmett to strike a 25 yard screamer which was inches wide of the post.
The Dabbers were quick out of the traps for the second half, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Lawton raced down the right and his ball into the danger area found Andy Parkinson lurking at the back stick but Karl Stanley cleared for a corner. Then, Jimmy Quinn played a neat one-two with Lee Brough and the former Hyde man picked out Parkinson in the clear but this time he smashed his shot against the upright from a narrow angle.
On 72 minutes, the ball broke towards the Bacup goal and time seemed to stand still as Quinn and Felgate made for the loose ball. Felgate won the race of the two 44 year olds, clearing the danger – to the amusement of the two veterans and the crowd. Six minutes later, the referee gave a corner when Brough’s drive flicked off the boot of May and from Brough’s corner kick, old warhorse John Scarlett (who had only been on the pitch 3 minutes) leapt like a salmon to head into the top corner with Felgate stranded.
Nantwich youth captain Adam Newton then entered the fray and he drew a save out of Felgate at the near post as the Dabbers threatened to ravage their visitors. The Bacup keeper then used his legs to block a thundering volley that Quinn sweetly struck from the edge of the box but, with five minutes remaining, he was beaten for the third time.
Newton ran from deep and, with the Bacup defence backing away, he foraged into the box and clipped the ball past the helpless Felgate. Two minutes later, it was 4-0 when Ashley Lawton stole in front of a shell shocked defence to slip Parkinson’s low cross into the net.
Bacup didn’t manage an attempt on goal in the whole of the second period and the Dabbers’ second half display must be considered the best seen at Jackson Avenue for many a year. ‘Quinny’ may have been the inspiration but the whole team played superbly and were a great credit to player-boss Steve Davis.
Nantwich: Read, Morris, Pullar, Davis, Jardine, Santus, Lawton, Brough (Newton,79) Rutter (Scarlett,75), Quinn, Parkinson. Booked: Santus (33mins)
Bacup: Felgate, May, Bates, Repullo, McCartney, Taylor, Stanley, Peters (Lloyd,52), Emmett, Stott, Picnow (Wilkinson,15). Booked: Stanley (90mins).

Match report written by Michael Chatwin