Flixton 0
Nantwich Town 1
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

Date: Wednesday 18th October.2006.

Flixton 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 1
Adam Beasley. 1st minute.

NANTWICH: Rob Hackney. Murray McCulloch. Paul Taylor. Richard Smith. Mark Fitton. Paul Donnelly. Adam Beasley. James Marrow. Andy Kinsey. Andy Bott. Danny Griggs. Substitutes: Stuart Scheuber. Mathew Platt. Matt Blake.

Nantwich lined up with a 4 -3 – 3 formation, attacking early against a rapidly improving Flixton.The game was but a minute old when `The Dabbers`caught the home side in retreat, taking the lead via midfielder Adam Beasley.However,the joy of going in front so early was tempered in the 17th minute when Nantwich influential winger Danny Griggs pulled up, citing considerable pain in his lower abdomen.He retired to the dressing room for medication and was replaced by Stuart Scheuber.The loss of Griggs initially affected `The Dabbers` shape but, eventually they regained composure, and went on to create several opportunities,albeit without scoring.The second half was a different story, with Flixton throwing everything at Nantwich, including some very heavy tackles that regretfully remained unpunished.In order to thwart the threat of the home side, which came mainly through Vaughan and Mitten,Nantwich really needed to squeeze the yawning gaps in the middle of the pitch but, on failing to do so, heaped unnecessary pressure on themselves.Flixton,desperate to get back on level terms, resorted to long balls in an effort to bring either Vaughan or Mitten into play.The visitors defence,despite enduring continuing rough treatment from the Flixton attack,threw bodies in front of the ball, thereby denying the home side the break they became increasingly desperate to secure.Having endured a very physical and demanding second half, Nantwich slowly began to drop deeper as the game moved towards normal time.Left back Paul Taylor collected a booking late in the game but,to their great credit,his side held out, and collected maximum points to add to their promotion challenge.

After a very tough game Nantwich Head Coach Steve Davis reflected:- “ Those were hard points to have won.We were poor in the second half, except for our back four, plus Rob Hackney in goal,they played out of their skins to keep us in the game.”

Match report written by Phil Johnson