Great Harwood Town 0
Nantwich Town 5
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

GREAT HARWOOD TOWN 0 NANTWICH TOWN 5
NWCFL Div 1 – 26 February 2005

Nantwich notched their biggest win of the season over bottom of the table Great Harwood. An arson attack on Harwood’s ground meant the game was played at Accrington Stanley but, on a bitterly cold afternoon, it was Matt Blake who was on fire with a debut hat-trick for the Dabbers,
The early exchanges were even, Danny Griggs firing over from 20 yards and McManus doing likewise for the hosts. Glyn Blackhurst was substituted when he aggravated an ankle injury but then, on 17 minutes Nantwich went in front when Griggs played the ball into the danger area and, when home keeper Bobby Harris failed to gather, it ran kindly for Blake to tap home.
Paul Rutter latched on to a weak back pass from Kennedy but had his shot charged down and the ex-Stafford man then clipped the ball round the advancing Harris only to shoot over from an acute angle. The hosts threatened an equaliser when Thompson and Hill combined cleverly but the impressive Karl Williams sizzled over from 20 yards.
Nantwich continued to create chances and, a minute before the break, Griggs’ free-kick was met by Paul Santus’ diving header to make it 2-0.
After the interval, Matt Bradbury overran the ball breaking out of defence but Rogers rifled over then Williams failed to keep his shot down as the hosts tried to force their way back into the game.
But it was all over on the hour mark when Blake muscled a home defender off the ball and cleverly cut inside before sliding the ball past Harris for his second. Rutter had a shot blocked, Adam Newton drilled wide of the target and Melvin Daniels clipped the outside of the post as the Dabbers threatened to run riot.
A fourth goal came on 67 minutes – Griggs again the provider with Rutter tucking the ball past the hapless Harris.
Hill’s cross from the left was met on the turn by O’Neill but the ball whistled over the bar as Harwood showed determination to keep going against the odds. Steele set up Rogers but his shot lacked venom and Harwood’s wretched afternoon was wrapped up on 90 minutes when Daniels raced from deep and when Harris could only parry his shot, Blake was again in the right place at the right time to slip the ball home for his hat-trick.
The margin of victory flattered Nantwich somewhat but the last two games have seen the Dabbers take their chances and tightened up at the back – and they have got their just rewards with two comprehensive victories. Harwood, on the other hand, will be left rueing their current situation and with, reportedly, five players walking out of the club after the match relegation looks a certainty for the Lancashire outfit.
Great Harwood: Harris, Thompson, Steele, Kennedy (Prestage,60), Welsh, Rogers, O’Neill, Hill, McManus, Williams, Nelson (Eccleston,80). Booked: Prestage (90mins)
Nantwich: Read, Pullar, O’Brien, Davis, Bradbury, Santus (Morrison,75), Griggs, Blackhurst (Newton,16), Rutter (Hampshire,70), Blake, Daniels.

PHOTO: Paul Santus wins another midfield battle.

Match report written by Michael Chatwin