St.Helens Town 0
Nantwich Town 4
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

Date: Saturday 16th September.2006.

St Helens Town 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 4
Andy Kinsey (52) (82)
Andy Bott (27)
Mathew Platt (86)

NANTWICH: Rob Hackney. Paul Donnelly. Paul Taylor. Richard Smith. Mark Fitton. Phil Parkinson. Adam Beasley. Stuart Scheuber. Andy Kinsey. Andy Bott. Danny Griggs. Substitutes:
Ishmail Reade. Mathew Platt. Murray McCulloch.

Nantwich welcomed Murray McCulloch back into the squad following a break in his native Scotland.He
replaced Lawrence Briggs on the bench whilst Stuart Scheuber moved from the bench into midfield at
the expense of Ishmail Reade.`The Dabbers` started in 4th place in the division whilst their hosts,who
had witnessed an exodus of players recently following the resignation of manager Joe Gibilru,were
seeking their first win of the season.

Early Nantwich pressure secured them an opportunity when Adam Beasley worked deep on the right
before delivering a square ball to Andy Bott, who just failed to gather the ball when in close attendance
on goal.The virtually new-line up of the hosts were eager to prove their worth and secured a 6th minute
corner that initially was headed away by Richard Smith before Cawley found space to deliver an angled
strike from just inside the area that flashed across the face of goal.Eighth minute interchanges between
Griggs,Beasley and Kinsey looked promising allowing Kinsey to place a right to left shot from close
range that agonizingly sailed past the upright,moments later Paul Donnelly produced a brave clearance
header as Ledsham moved in with an attempt to latch on to a midfield ball as the game switched once
more.Paul Taylor’s initial ball from a corner was poor but,he made amends by reaching Andy Kinsey
with the second ball that was headed off the line after Kinsey had stooped in an effort to power home
from close range.From the clearance Nantwich formed a four man movement with the final ball reaching
the left footed Paul Taylor but,the ball fell on to his right foot with the direction somewhat miscued from
the edge of the area.Just on the quarter hour the visitors won consecutive corners with the second
witnessing Kinsey fire in a sharp drive that flew off a defender, and in attempt to clear St Helens were
halted by the tenacity of Griggs, who won a free kick, marginally close to the area, and it was somewhat
unfortunate that from Griggs dead ball kick the ‘keeper spilled but, no one was on hand to touch the
loose ball home.`The Dabbers` were denied a further corner in the 25th minute after Paul Taylor pressure
won an initial corner that remained loose in the six yard box until a defender’s attempt to clear took him
over the byeline,ball included.But,the goal that had been threatened for some time by Nantwich
arrived in the 27th minute.Further pressure from the visitors allowed an opportunity for Andy
Bott after a defender had lost the ball in the 6 yard box,Bott slid in to poke the ball toward the
bottom left of goal and despite a despairing left hand from ‘keeper Leather his response simply
aided the ball into the corner of the net.Three minutes later St Helens captain Dyson almost squared
it for his side after the hosts penetrated deep on the left whereupon Nantwich centre half Mark Fitton
was slow to effect a clearance and when Dyson rounded the No.5 his low angled strike was a mere few
inches away from goal at the far post.With the warning bell sounded Nantwich reasserted themselves
and produced a four man move that allowed the pressure to reach the six yard box,where,somewhat
inexplicably,Andy Kinsey shot wide, with an open goal confronting him.Andy Bott was then unlucky
with a 40th minute effort from inside the six yard box.Kinsey played him in and, despite turning two
defenders, Bott could only shoot into the ‘keepers arms.Right on the stroke of half time Bott,Griggs and
Beasley all had chances but, as the players left the field, the scoreline,rather surprisingly,remained the
same.
Nantwich were fortunate not to concede a minute into the second period when Hatton got free down the
visitors right side producing an unchallenged effort that only just eased over the opposite side of the
bar.And so,with the warning bell sounding once again Nantwich responded and were to add a
second goal in the 52nd minute.Phil Parkinson won a midfield challenge,and produced a run that
took him to the middle of the 18 yard line before releasing Andy Kinsey hovering on the left, who
moved unchallenged toward ‘keeper Leather, firing into the opposite corner of the
net.However,five minutes later the home side once again came close to reducing the deficit after the
unmarked Ledsham squared to Cawley within feet of the byline, but the strikers shot was flawed and
drifted wide of the left hand post.A minute later Nantwich made a double substitution when Reade
replaced Beasley whilst McCulloch replaced Donnelly.Almost immediately,McCulloch conceded a
corner after his side had lost midfield possession and from the clearance St Helens attacked again
allowing Hatton to feed Ledsham in a dangerous position but,not for the first time in this match,poor
finishing allowed Nantwich off the hook!Mathew Platt replaced Andy Bott with a quarter hour
remaining but,the home side again showed some initiative by setting up an attack that allowed Dyson to
fire an overhead kick from as close as 10 yards,fortunately Rob Hackney was on hand to collect the ball
in his arms but,the alarm bells were ringing again!However,`The Dabbers` weren’t to be denied an
increase in their lead. Andy Kinsey was on the scoresheet again in the 82nd minute, notching a
brace for the afternoon, when a well crafted crossfield ball from the right, delivered by Mathew
Platt, fell neatly at the feet of the Nantwich No.9 who looked up, before placing a deft right foot
shot past the prostrate home goalkeeper.Platt followed moments later with a narrow strike from 15
yard’s before himself climbing aboard the scoresheet.The substitute striker worked his way to the left
of goal some 12 yards out, dragged the ball almost to the byline,before unleashing a dipping shot
that went through the arms of the despairing ‘keeper into the far bottom corner of the net from an
almost impossible angle.Almost on the stroke of normal time Reade had an angled shot turned away for
a corner but, within seconds of the clearance,referee McGill blew,and Nantwich Town had secured not
only their seventh win in nine games but,their first clean sheet of the season, and third place in the
NWCL first division table.
Head Coach Steve Davis reflected on the victory:- “ Not the best of performances by us this afternoon,
but nevertheless we virtually dominated the game.St Helens were perhaps a shade unlucky with a couple
of efforts, equally had it not been for luck at times on their part we could have come away with not only
our first clean sheet of the season, but an increased scoreline.I am looking for us to play much better
when we play Stockport County in the Cheshire Senior Cup at Jackson Avenue on Tuesday night”

Match report written by Phil Johnson