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

Match Report

FORMBY 1 NANTWICH TOWN 1
NWCFL Div 1 – 5 March 2005

Nantwich picked up a point in a scrappy affair against lowly Formby. The Dabbers were depleted with Matt Bradbury (broken toe), Richard Pullar (broken collar bone) and Paul Santus (suspended) and Glyn Blackhurst was named substitute without being properly fit. John Scarlett was also on the bench following the reduction, on appeal, of his 77 day ban. John Ackerley and Dave Griffin stepped up from the reserves and gave a good account of themselves on a day when football was difficult due to a blustery wind and hard pitch.
Nantwich made the early running and a long-range strike from Melvin Morrison almost caught out home keeper Terry McCormick. Then a Danny Griggs free-kick caused trouble in the home defence with Brian Dacey almost putting through his own goal.
The visitors took the lead in spectacular fashion on 20 minutes. Paul Rutter forced a corner and Griggs’ kick was only partially cleared to Adam Newton who cracked a thunderbolt volley into the top of the net from the edge of the penalty area. Despite having the wind behind them, Nantwich couldn’t capitalise on their lead and, in fact, Formby almost equalised just before half-time. Danny Read could only parry Danny Gabrielson’s long-ranger but the Nantwich keeper did well to recover and push the ball away from the feet of the lurking Andy Olsen.
Shortly after the break Melvin Daniels picked up a loose ball but ballooned well over but Formby then stepped up a gear. Griffin was forced into conceding a free-kick which Mark Kerr bounced off the crossbar and when Steve Davis and Griffin couldn’t get the ball clear, Olsen would have equalised but for a smart save from Read.
Rutter thought he had made it 2-0 fifteen minutes from time when he rammed home a deflection from Daniels’ strike but the referee ruled offside and, at the other end, Phil Toale should have done better but blazed wide when well placed.
The equaliser finally came 10 minutes from time. Ackerley was rather harshly adjudged to have brought down Paul Guy in the box and the Formby man got up to fire the spot-kick past Read. Although the referee demanded a re-take, Guy repeated the medicine giving Read no chance.
Substitute Neal Smith headed wide from Dacey’s free-kick and Guy had a shot deflected wide as the hosts went in search of victory but it was the Dabbers who almost clinched a win in stoppage time but Matt Blake’s searing shot was palmed round the post by McCormick.
All in all, a fair result on an afternoon when wind-sailing on the beach might have been a better option.
Formby: McCormick, Phoenix, Bourne (Proctor,83) Dacey, Kerr (Smith,76), Roberts, Rubbery, Toale (Banawich,87), Olsen, Gabrielson, Guy. Booked: Smith (80mins)
Nantwich: Read, Ackerley, O’Brien, Davis, Griffin, Morrison, Griggs, Newton, Rutter (Scarlett,83), Blake, Daniels. Booked: Griggs (50mins)

PHOTO:Paul Rutter and Adam Newton tussle with the Formby midfield.

Match report written by Michael Chatwin