Squires Gate 1
Nantwich Town 2
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

SQUIRES GATE 1 NANTWICH TOWN 2
NWCFL Div 1 - 23 April 2005

Nantwich ended their wretched run of results by easing to victory on the Fylde coast. Matt Blake was again the Dabbers saviour, notching a goal in each half to give Steve Davis' side a deserved victory.
The visitors started brightly and Melvyn Morrison's mazy run earned a free-kick on the edge of the box - Danny Griggs' curling effort being pushed round the post by Ben Morris in the home goal. Morris had been awarded the NWCFL Goalkeeper of the Month Award but the Award's curse was evident when he failed to control a back pass in the tenth minute and the alert Blake slid in to roll the ball home.
Danny Read pulled off a smart double save from Brian Butler and Nicky Seekings to preserve the lead but it was Nantwich who continued the stronger. Melvyn Daniels was played in by Blake only to be thwarted by Morris' outstretched legs, Glyn Blackhurst rifled wide after being set up by Adam Newton and Morris bundled the ball round the upright from Griggs' 20-yarder.
After the interval, the Dabbers continued to press and Griggs and Blake combined well to set up a chance for Daniels whose shot just cleared the bar.
On 55 minutes, Nantwich's perseverance paid off when Blackhurst forged his way through the Gate midfield and cleverly chipped the ball over the advancing Morris into the path of Blake who had the simple task of tapping home.
Spurred into action, the hosts pulled a goal back just after the hour mark. Newton's misplaced pass landed at the feet of Rob Lloyd who welcomed the gift by steering past Read from the edge of the area.
Danny Jarrett conceded a free-kick just outside the box as Gate went in search of an equaliser and Lloyd clipped the kick onto the top of Read's bar. That was the closest the hosts came as the Nantwich defence and midfield snuffed out any home creativity and it was the Dabbers who should have found the back of the net again. First Morris pushed Blake's shot into the path of Daniels but he was unable to knock it in from close range and then Blake spurned a glorious chance for his hat-trick by failing to get his free header on target from 10 yards.
Squires Gate: Morris, Harvie (Sandham,75), Rhodes, Ormson, McCann, Dyson, Hughes (Collins,60), Butler, Seekings, Withall (Hankin,25), Lloyd. Booked: Hughes (43mins)
Nantwich: Read, O'Brien, Morrison, Jarrett, Bradbury, Newton, Griggs, Blackhurst, Blake, Daniels, Bailey. Booked: Daniels (55mins), Morrison (56mins).

Match report written by Michael Chatwin