Nantwich Town 2
Ramsbottom United 0
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

NANTWICH TOWN 2 RAMSBOTTOM UNITED 0
NWCFL Div 1 - 19 March 2005

Nantwich bounced back from back-to-back defeats with a comfortable victory over fourth placed Ramsbottom.
Injury to Danny Read meant that Simon Pay was recalled between the sticks and the veteran’s goal was twice threatened early on by Matt Walsh as the visitors made the running.
The game turned in the 24th minute, though, when Danny Griggs played in Matt Blake who rounded Rammy keeper Mark Andrews before pulling the ball back for Melvin Daniels to stroke home from 12 yards.
With their tails up, the Dabbers laid siege to the visitors’ goal and home debutant Danny Jarrett had a header palmed away by Andrews. John Scarlett skewed wide when the ball fell to him at the edge of the box but he made amends on the half-hour when Jarrett headed the ball into his path and he hooked past Andrews from close range to make it 2-0.
The shell-shocked visitors responded when Dave Griffin brought down Mickey Saunders but Matt Raywood headed Matt Edgington’s free-kick wide of the target.
Nantwich were still dictating play and Ashley Lawton slipped the ball through for Griggs but he fired into the side netting. Then, on the stroke of half-time, Scarlett spurned a golden opportunity to grab his second.
After the break, the hosts continued to boss the play – Blake and Scarlett interchanged well but the youngster’s left foot shot skimmed wide of the far post. With the home defence restricting chances for the visitors, Blake set up Griggs but the Nantwich skipper ballooned over and then Scarlett nodded wide of the mark on 70 minutes.
Rammy’s afternoon of woe was complete three minutes from time when Chris Mackay brought down Scarlett as he headed towards goal and dissent from the Ramsbottom man earned him nothing more than an early bath.
A display of composure and conviction from the Dabbers who fully deserved to bag the three points against a strangely out-of-sorts Ramsbottom side.
Nantwich: Reade, Ackerley (Newton,25), O’Brien, Griffin, Jarrett, Daniels, Griggs, Santus (Rutter,82), Scarlett, Blake, Lawton. Booked: Griffin (40mins)
Ramsbottom: Andrews, Raywood, Brooks (Frost,h-t), Kozlowski, Robertson, Blackley, Mackay, Walsh, Saunders, Hayes (Purcell,65), Cook (Edgington,15). Booked: Edgington (50mins). Sent Off: Mackay (87mins)

Match report written by Michael Chatwin