Nantwich Town 2
Glossop North End 1
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

NANTWICH 2 GLOSSOP 1
5 November 2005

The game almost turned into a damp squib for the Dabbers who found it hard-going to overcome a Glossop side on a very heavy pitch.
Persistent rain had left the Jackson Avenue surface saturated which perhaps contributed to the match being more even that the 5-0 hiding the Dabbers had dished out at Glossop a few weeks ago.
Nantwich hit the bar early on but the visitors also caused problems with the ever-dangerous Gary Kharas driving just past the near post on 20 minutes.
At the other end, John Scarlett was denied by a smart piece of footwork by Glossop keeper Stuart Williams and then Matt Blake got in behind the Glossop’s backline but couldn’t get a shot on target.
The hosts were made to pay for their missed chances when the Hillmen gained the ascendancy just after the half-hour. Darren Hamilton got free down the left and the unmarked Kharas rose to nod his cross past a despairing Rob Hackney.
Ten minutes after the interval, Nantwich carved out an equaliser when Adam Beasley chased after a long ball down the middle. The Nantwich midfielder put pressure on Darren Blore who inadvertently rolled the ball past his advancing keeper and into the corner of the net.
Nantwich were now having their best spell of the game and Beasley should have given them the lead but he shot weakly following good work down the right by Danny Griggs.
On 68 minutes, Griggs popped up on the other flank and his mazy run was cut short when he was upended in the box. The Dabbers leading scorer got up to calmly stroke the spot kick past the helpless Williams.
Williams bravely saved at the feet of Phil Parkinson following Blake’s low centre and, late on, Stuart Scheuber saw his goalbound strike deflected wide.
Glossop’s never-say-die attitude saw six of their players booked and Manager Chris Nicholson sent from the dugout by referee Mr Bristow but the Derbyshire outfit stuck to their task and could have sneaked a point. As it was, the Dabbers held on grimly to secure their seventh win on the bounce.
Nantwich: Hackney, S.Beasley, Donnelly, Smith, Malbon, Parkinson, A.Beasley, Scheuber, Scarlett (Grice,85), Blake (Adlington,90), Griggs.

Match report written by Michael Chatwin