Maine Road 5
Nantwich Town 3
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

MAINE ROAD 5 NANTWICH TOWN 3
NWCFL Division One – 16 April 2005

After a bright opening, the Dabbers slumped to a disappointing defeat against a mediocre Maine Road side.
Nantwich bossed the early stages and played neat football, deservedly taking the lead 10 minutes in when Glyn Blackhurst set up Danny Griggs who smacked home a rasping 25 yarder that left Greg Hall stranded in the home goal.
Hall scampered to save a long ranger from Chris Bailey, Griggs pulled a shot wide and Matty Blake clipped a shot straight at Hall as the Dabbers threatened to run riot.
But Road snatched an equaliser on the half hour when Chris Cipoolla was slow to react, allowing Chris Crookes to slip the ball home from 10 yards. Blake saw his free header bounce up over the bar and Griggs’ 30 yard free-kick was turned round the post as the visitors attempted to reinstate their lead.
But it was the Chorlton outfit who took the lead just after the re-start when Neil Chappell pounced on a rebound to net. Steve Davis had a header from Griggs’ corner headed off the line before sloppy defending allowed Road to make it 3-1 on the hour. A long cross was not dealt with by Neil O’Brien and Alex Yates’ tame shot from a narrow angle squirmed under Cipolla’s body.
Two minutes later, Blake’s dipping thunderbolt ripped past Hall to give Nantwich hope but three minutes later the hosts restored their two goal advantage when Cipolla punched out a corner but veteran Ian Walker crashed home on the volley from the edge of the box.
Fifteen minutes from time, the game was all over when Mark Mitchell skipped past Davis and, although Cipolla was able to block the shot, Chappell was on hand to poach his second to make it 5-2.
Nantwich’s leading marksman Paul Rutter pulled a goal back when he scooped home a nod down from Danny Jarrett from a Griggs corner but, overall, it was a disappointing display after the Dabbers had started so brightly and threatened to race into an unassailable lead. The game, though, was played in good spirit and referee Mr Denton had no need to brandish a single card.
Maine Road: Hall, Howe, Jay, Walker (Simms,75), Blore, Chappell, Clawley (Cheetham,30), Marshall, Richards (Mitchell,38), Crookes, Yates.
Nantwich: Cipolla, Newton, O’Brien, Davis, Jarrett, Bailey, Griggs, Blackhurst, Blake, Daniels (Morrison,75), Rutter.

PHOTO: Chris Bailey's strike from distance (saved by young Maine Road 'keeper Greg Hall.)

Match report written by Michael Chatwin