Atherton Collieries 0
Nantwich Town 1
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

Moore & Co Construction Solicitors North West Counties League. 1st Division.

Saturday 25th February.2005.

Atherton Collieries 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 1
James Marrow. 25

Match Report.

NANTWICH TOWN: Rob Hackney. Paul Taylor. Murray McCulloch. Richard Smith. Paul Donnelly. Phil Parkinson ©. Mathew Platt. Adam Beasley. James Marrow. Matt Blake. Danny Griggs. Substitutes: Stuart Scheuber. John Scarlett. Steve Davis.

‘Dabbers’ were without injury victims Andy Kinsey and Andy Taylor whilst striker James Marrow made his first full appearance since 24th September last after sustaining a foot injury in the FA Cup 2nd Qualifying round defeat at home to Hucknall Town.

NANTWICH were forced to clear their defensive lines on several occasions early in the game,strikes from James Parkinson and Mark Prince in particular proving troublesome but,NANTWICH hit back,winning a brace of corners during the first ten minutes.

After weathering an early storm from the lowly Atherton NANTWICH began to assemble a series of attacking moves,one in particular from Marrow who fed Blake deep on the right but,to the frustration of Blake, his run on goal contentiously ruled offside 15 yards out with only ‘keeper Rogerson to beat.Moments later ‘Dabbers’ skipper Parkinson brought the ball out of midfield, bringing into play the lively Platt who was unlucky to see the ball narrowly avoid him when well placed some 20 yards out.

Play was brought to a halt in the 20th minute following a facial injury to Phil Parkinson, the victim of a flying arm whilst assisting his side thwart an Atherton attack that at the time had pushed NANTWICH back into their 6 yard box.Parkinson eventually rejoined his comrades and played a part in setting up the only goal of the game in the 25th minute.

The ‘Dabbers’ had forced Collieries to defend deep on their right side and, after the ball had gone out for a throw in, Paul Taylors ball reached the feet of Blake who played it on toward Marrow, stabbing the ball home from close range despite the attention of home ‘keeper Rogerson.

Atherton hit back on the half hour,forcing Griggs to concede a free kick 22 yards out,the lively Prince striking the dead ball past the defensive wall but,Hackney was alert enough to go down smartly at his left post to claim the ball.Five minutes later midfielder Starkey hit a fearsome 30 yard drive that brought Hackney into action on his line followed by Prince moments later,clearly offside, the player was allowed to run on and test Hackney with a shot that was held some 12 yards from goal.

NANTWICH recovered and 8 minutes from the halfway mark Taylor again placed a long throw from the right into the path of Platt who in turn lofted the ball over the home defence to the unmarked Blake who was unlucky to see the ball narrowly avoid him when well placed to the ‘keepers left.Immediately from the goal kick NANTWICH secured a free kick,again on the Atherton right from where they had penetrated so often during the first half,Paul Taylor striking the ball sweetly over the wall, agonizingly shaving the ‘keepers left angle of post and bar.

A minute from time Platt secured a 5th corner of the half for his side when his 15 yard shot forced the home ‘keeper to concede on his right hand side.The flag kick well taken by Griggs who lofted the ball into the centre of goal,Rogerson punching clear but,right into the path of the waiting Parkinson who fired a low drive under the ‘keeper who remarkably turned his body far enough to smother the ball right on the goal line.

Half Time: Atherton Collieries 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 1

On resumption NANTWICH continued where they had left off,in attack, and on 52 minutes saw an appeal for a penalty turned away by referee Broadhurst after Beasley was brought down following great work by Griggs who had turned two defenders before sliding the ball into the path of Beasley a mere 12 yards from goal.

As the hour mark approached NANTWICH consistently made deep inroads into the Atherton half but,without securing that final ball that would have provided a more comfortable margin.The ‘Dabbers’ however had become increasingly frustrated following some strange decisions by one particular assistant referee that left the most neutral of observer scratching their heads.A regularity of whistle blowing from Mr Broadhurst hereon in added further to Nantwich frustrations accompanied by a very poor playing surface that worsened in the final half hour.

Atherton,to their credit, worked NANTWICH hard at times and, were not without opportunities themselves,however it was the ‘Dabbers’ who to continued to create the best out of a game that became scrappy as time ebbed away.

On 72 minutes Platt executed a superb through ball from a central midfield position that split the home defence and into the path of the already on the move Blake who held off the challenge of defenders either side the young striker, the 16 yard shot unfortunately hitting the side netting after a goal looked on the cards.Three minutes later Scheuber replaced Beasley in midfield and immediately became involved in the action, probing his way around the central defenders, only to hear either a whistle or see a flag raised to his right side.

Eight minutes from time Platt disappointedly fired an 18 yard shot wide of goal after Blake had stood his ground,pulling the ball back from the bye line into the path of the winger.There then followed an assault by Atherton that to be honest had Nantwich rocking at times although the ‘Dabbers’ did make a contribution, having momentarily lost their shape and concentration.
John Scarlett replaced Griggs 5 minutes from time and held the ball up well enough to relieve the pressure that his side had endured late in the game.Then, right on the stroke of full time, Scarlett progressed to the by line on the right, pulled the ball back into the path of the unmarked Platt who frustratingly repeated an earlier strike and the chance of a second goal went begging.

PHOTO: James Marrow beats Colls' keeper Rogerson to the ball to put the Dabbers ahead.

Match report written by Phil Johnson