Nantwich Town 1
Newcastle Town 2
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

NANTWICH TOWN 1 NEWCASTLE TOWN 2
NWCFL Div 1 - 3 January 2005

Newcastle earned the points with a rugged display in this derby tussle but a depleted Nantwich side will be pleased with a sparkling performance. With Paul Rutter and Ashley Lawton injured, Paul Santus, Matt Bradbury and Glyn Blackhurst unavailable and John Scarlett suspended, Nantwich player-boss Steve Davis named five players who had figured in their Youth Cup campaign earlier in the season.
Jack Allman came in to make his debut in midfield and put in an impressive display whilst 17 year-old Adam Newton is clearly destined to grace a bigger stage after another enterprising performance in the middle of the park.
But the visitors’ greater experience and muscle eventually carried the day and the final scoreline was a fair reflection of the game.
‘Castle started the brighter but with player-boss Nigel Gleghorn strangely subdued on his return to Jackson Avenue, it was left to two-goal Michael Lennon to grab the points for the Potteries’ high-fliers.
Danny Griggs almost steered the Dabbers into a tenth minute lead but Richard Frogatt got down well to block his shot from 15 yards and ‘Castle responded when Dave Woodvine raced down the right only for Darren Johnson to slide his cross inches wide of the post. Chances were few and far between but the visitors took the lead midway through the half when Lennon was on hand to steer the ball home following a goalmouth melee.
Griggs then had a long free kick which almost caught out Froggatt and Richard Ilemann fired over when well-placed as the Dabbers looked to get on level terms. Debutant Jack Allmann also tested Froggatt as he headed down Griggs’ cross from the right but the visitors ended the half on top. The wily Gleghorn won a free-kick on the edge of the box which Paul Harris curled dangerously close to the Nantwich goal with Danny Read a virtual spectator.
From the re-start, Chris Hampshire harassed the ‘Castle defence but there was no-one on hand to meet his ball into the danger area. An exquisite ball from Jack Allman then looked to have played in Hampshire only for the Nantwich centre-forward to sadly pull up with a pulled hamstring as he bore down on goal.
Newcastle then took advantage when Chris Morris misdirected a header enabling Duckworth to set up Lennon who checked inside before drilling past Read for his second of the game. Johnson created a chance for Beasley on the edge of the box but the substitute’s shot lacked venom as the visitors looked to seal victory. Fellow substitute Paul Kiely dispossessed Lee Brough in the danger area but rifled wide and then brought an acrobatic save out of Read with a speculative long-ranger.
But the young Nantwich side kept going and Newton almost gained a consolation when he let fly from 25 yards after latching on to Griggs’ lay-off. That consolation finally came a minute from time when referee Chris Byrne pointed to the spot after holding in the penalty area and Griggs duly side-footed past Froggatt.
It set up a tense stoppage time for the visitors but they held on to record the double against Nantwich and boost their promotion credentials. Steve Davis, though, will be pleased with the display of his young charges who showed a lot of guile and determination against a far more experienced outfit.
Nantwich: Read, Morris, Pullar, Davis, Alexander, Newton, Jack Allman, Brough, Hampshire (Will Allman,57), Griggs, Ilemann. Booked: Davis (62 mins)
Newcastle Froggatt, Gillick, Duckworth, Beeston (Kiely,70), Diskin, Gleghorn (Beasley,50), Harris, Wilkes, Johnson, Lennon (Dunn,80), Woodvine.
Attendance: 180

Match report written by Michael Chatwin