Nantwich Town 1
Trafford 2
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

Date: Saturday 23rd December.2006.

NANTWICH TOWN 1 v Trafford 2
Danny Griggs. Penalty (45) Troy Hayder. 35. 41.

Attendance.150

NANTWICH TOWN:Rob Hackney. Paul Donnelly. Gyorgy Kiss. Richard Smith. Jemiah Richards. Phil Parkinson © Michailis Chailis. Adam Beasley. Andy Kinsey. Matt Blake. Danny Griggs. Substitutes: Andy Bott. Stuart Scheuber. Paul Taylor.

With their recent injury crisis easing `The Dabbers` in 3rd were able to field one of their strongest line- ups so far this season against the improving 7th placed Trafford.Winger Danny Griggs returned to the starting eleven following his recent double hernia operation whilst Nantwich head coach Steve Davis elected to go with on loan central defender Jemiah Richards at the expense of Mark Fitton.

Nantwich began uneasily and allowed their visitors to dictate the early minutes of the game.The danger signals were in evidence during the 2nd minute when Trafford winger Ashton hit a fierce right foot drive from the right hand edge of the box that ended narrowly wide of the target.For the home side midfielder Chailis timed his 3rd minute intervention well to halt the run of Barker deep in the Nantwich midfielders own half.`The Dabbers` won their first corner of the half when Griggs chip to the to the left post was cleared for a corner.Trafford right back Jones was initially slick in clearing from the flag kick but, it was the attendant Griggs who picked up the ball before striking a fierce 20 yard volley that flew off a defensive leg to safety.Despite a number of half chances `The Dabbers` continued to wear a very nervy look and were second to the ball on most occasions in the first quarter hour,albeit littered with free kicks.Hayder`s mobility was proving to be a continuing threat as the half progressed and his 17th minute shot from 15 yards may well have ended wide of the target but,the Trafford No.9 was giving notice once again.Play was halted in the 20th minute due to a right foot injury to `Dabbers` central defender Richard Smith who was proving commanding during the almost by now incessant attacks from a very nimble Trafford side.In the 22nd minute, Trafford winger Ashton`s angled shot from the left was handled well by `Dabbers` goalkeeper Rob Hackney at his near post but, Nantwich were continually guilty of not being switched on to what was happening around them,thereby allowing the opposition time and space to create danger.With the half hour complete Trafford were having too greater possession of the ball for comfort.Danny Griggs required treatment following a very heavy challenge from midfielder Southwood and,with the light visibly failing, the floodlights were brought into action.Trafford opened their account in the 35th minute through Troy Hayder.Nantwich were caught inattentive down their right flank, allowing Hayder to progress with a run that eventually brought him in front of central defender Richards just inside the Nantwich area.Switching his run to the left,and with Richards by now a spectator,Hayder struck with a low shot that,despite the outstretched right hand of Rob Hackney, the ball dipped under the Nantwich custodian and into the back of the net.Five minutes from the break a Phil Parkinson centre to the well placed Adam Beasley was destroyed due to the early intervention of visiting goalkeeper Rooney, who was enjoying a somewhat inactive afternoon.`The Dabbers` hearts sunk further 4 minutes from the break when Hayder struck again.The centre forward jigged his way through, from just inside the left side of the Nantwich half, before embarrassingly side footing a second goal after he squeezed between Richards and Donnelly to slot past a stagnant Hackney from 15 yards.But,however,the home side were thrown a lifeline right on the stroke of half time after Trafford central defender Ged Kielty was adjudged to have hand balled 5 yards inside his own area.Despite protests from the centre half the judgment went against him and he miraculously remained on the field of play.Danny Griggs made no mistake from the spot kick giving Rooney no chance with a well driven shot into the right hand corner of the net to place his side back into contention.

From the restart, Richards was left to clear Nantwich lines after Trafford continued where they left off,in attack.However,in a rare,if somewhat promising Nantwich surge, Danny Griggs delivered the sweetest of crosses from the right before the ball agonizingly glanced off the head of the well placed Adam Beasley positioned a mere 5 yards from the near post and, with only the `keeper to beat.Troy Hayder again threatened,this time in the 53rd minute when he hustled his way along the bye line before deflecting the ball for a corner off the legs of Smith.The flag kick having been dealt with, the home side were denied a clear penalty two minutes later after Nantwich skipper Phil Parkinson was hauled down on the left side of the 18 yard box.Appeals for the spot kick were brushed aside by referee Mr Stewart who had earlier delivered yellow cards to first,Trafford midfielder Southwood,followed by the unfortunate Phil Parkinson in first half added time.Danny Griggs 61st minute angled shot fell wide of the target followed by a visionary ball out of defence by Richards who brought Matt Blake into contention just inside the Trafford half,the by now match fit Nantwich forward beating his marker before shooting from 15 yards with an effort that forced Rooney to dive to his right before deflecting the effort for a throw-in.Chailis made way for Andy Bott on 66 minutes as `The Dabbers` sought an injection into their otherwise, patchy performance.The outstanding Richard Smith elected to concede a left sided corner as the second half progressed toward the 70th minute.Kielty`s flag kick sailed right into the arms of the waiting Hackney perched along side his right hand post whilst at the other end Matt Blake forced a corner over on the left.On 72 minutes a Kielty effort fell wide of goal before Canning replaced the almost absent Barker in the Trafford forward line.Richard Smith required further medical attention late in the game during a period when his defensive partners were having to employ a little overtime.Jemiah Richards did well to shackle the threat of substitute forward Canning a minute later and from that moment `The Dabbers` began to look a different side.During an 80th minute scramble in the Trafford 6 yard box Matt Blake was desperately unlucky to see his rising shot cannon off the face of the crossbar for a goal kick whilst 2 minutes later Andy Kinsey`s glancing close range header was taken by Rooney at his left hand post.A further effort from the leading Nantwich 18 goal striker fell wide of goal followed closely by an Andy Bott appeal for a penalty after he was hauled down with his back to goal within a couple of yards inside the area.Again,referee Stewart was in no frame of mind to listen to the protests from the home side and waved play on.Trafford winger Ashton produced a threatening 25 yard strike from the left on the stroke of normal time,a shot that on another afternoon could well have proven an increase to the winning margin of the lively Trafford had it been closer to the target.

Nantwich head coach Steve Davis reflected: “ Despite being able to put out one of the strongest sides we have been able to field this season we were largely second best to a nimble,hard working, consistent opposition.Not for the first time this season,when we fail to start well, we are, for the most part, second best,and that is exactly the story of our disappointing performance against Trafford.Pre match information and instructions were ignored,a regular issue which is in complete contrast to last season.Sometimes,when we have performed as poorly as we did today a late spark has got us something from the game.but,only against the weaker teams.The frustrating part of all this is that we have the nucleus of a promotion winning side but, for the moment,with 7 points dropped in the last 3 games, we are looking anything but.However,with 21 different line-ups from 23 league games this season, a settled side would not go amiss”.

Match report written by Phil Johnson