Stone Dominoes 2
Nantwich Town 6
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

Date: Tuesday 26th December.2006.

Teams: Stone Dominoes 2 v NANTWICH TOWN 6
James Sheldon (39) Matt Blake (23) (79)
Rob Adlington. Penalty (62) Andy Kinsey (52)
Danny Griggs (60)
Adam Beasley (70)
Michalis Chailis (89)

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

`The Dabbers` arrived at Springbank Park for this Boxing Day derby fixture without a win in the league since Gyorgy Kiss`s 87th minute winner against Maine Road back on the 21st November.Two draws and a defeat in the games leading up to this clash with the division’s bottom club left Steve Davis`s boys with the need to arrest further loss of points having conceded 7 out of a possible 9 in their last three games.Regulars Gyorgy Kiss and Murray McCulloch were unavailable for selection having returned to Hungary and Scotland respectively over the holiday period whilst recent signing Danny Smith was introduced to the bench.

The home side were lively in the early minutes of the first period and `Dabbers` were grateful to central defender Mark Fitton for twice heading clear from close range.Stone won a corner in the 10th minute after midfield playmaker Mezzaros had set up a move from just inside the `Dabbers` half whilst 5 minutes later a free kick just outside the box taken by winger Mathews dipped,the shot forcing Rob Hackney to concede a corner at his left hand post.A somewhat slightly embarrassing moment for the `Dabbers` goalkeeper occurred in the 17th minute after central defender Richard Smith had played a ball into Rob Hackney`s path for clearance upfield,however the kick resulted in the ball spooning backwards before a hasty retreat back to goal by the `Dabbers` No.1 arrested the situation.Despite the early threat from Dominoes `The Dabbers` steadily opened up their hosts midfield and defense with Andy Kinsey, Danny Griggs,Andy Bott and Matt Blake all delivering shots from around the edge of the box.`The Dabbers` deservedly went ahead in the 23rd minute.Nantwich captain Phil Parkinson,producing a best personal performance in a match for some time,fed Adam Beasley on the right side of the Dominoes half before bringing Matt Blake into play.Using his pace and power `Blakey` evaded five challenges en route to goal before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the back of the net from 15 yards to score a well deserved goal.Moments later,Andy Kinsey let fly with a 20 yard drive that goalkeeper Hall did well to hold at his left hand post but,despite the buoyancy of `The Dabbers,` the home side were in no mood to allow their visitors to dictate.During a spirited 25th minute spell Mathews and Teague went close with powerful efforts for the home side whilst `Dabbers` central defender Mark Fitton did well to halt the progress of Mathews on the half hour. Despite a collision between the two players just inside the box Dominoes faint appeals for a penalty remained unheard.Ten minutes before the break a tasty looking right wing cross from Matt Blake into the path of Andy Kinsey was poorly executed from the edge of the area,meanwhile, at the other end,`The Dabbers` were forced to retreat with haste after Maguire broke through from midfield and advanced 25 yards from goal before the intervention of Richard Smith halted progress of the Dominoes No.4.The home side drew level in the 39th minute when midfielder Sheldon breezed down the right from halfway inside `The Dabbers` half and,despite a couple of challenges,struck a 25 yard ground shot that fizzed past Rob Hackney into the bottom left hand corner of the net.With two minutes of the first half remaining Andy Bott turned a couple of defenders before bringing Andy Kinsey into play just off the right hand edge of the area but, the first time shot disappointedly ended way off target.Right on the stroke of 45 minutes Andy Kinsey disappointed once more when he placed a close range header wide of the target from a Matt Blake centre and from the resultant goal kick referee Mr Bonney blew to leave the match all square at the half way stage.
On resumption it was clear from the start that `The Dabbers` were not going to allow their hosts to spoil the Boxing Day visit to Springfield Park.Seven minutes into the second period and Nantwich commenced what turned out to be a rout at the finish.Danny Griggs,looking more like his usual self after recent surgery,produced a mazy left sided run before playing in Andy Kinsey just outside the area,`Kins` then letting fly with a shot that flew across the bows of goalkeeper James Hall into the far corner of the net to provide him with his 19th goal of the season.To their credit,Dominoes fought back but,despite their efforts the more experienced `Dabbers`gradually took control and it was no surprise when the lead was stretched further.Right on the stroke of the hour it was Andy Kinsey who was to turn provider for `Griggsy`.Working his way deep on the left `Kins` chipped a neat ball into the path of Griggs who executed a fine finish from 12 yards into the bottom right hand corner of the net to notch his 17th of the campaign.However,two minutes later, a rare excursion into the Nantwich half resulted in a penalty award for the home side following a collision between Mark Fitton and Dominoes striker Wayne Teague.`Fitz,`giving close attention to Teague,was adjudged to have brought down the Dominoes forward marginally inside the right hand edge of the area,former `Dabbers` striker Rob Adlington placing the firm spot kick under Rob Hackney as he dived to his right.And that,by and large, was the last to be seen of Dominoes threat to `The Dabbers`.Credit to Dominoes left back Spooner whose last ditch intervention denied first `Kins` and then `Botty` a mere 12 yards from goal in the 65th minute but 5 minutes later`The Dabbers` restored their lead.Adam Beasley,busying himself down the left side of the Dominoes half, edged toward goal before a clutch of home players got into somewhat of a tangle,lost their bearings allowing `Bease` to hit a close range volley that came of a defenders thigh and into the top left hand corner of the net.The Nantwich midfielder followed shortly afterwards by forcing Hall to concede a corner whilst at the other end Wayne Teague brought a flying save out of Rob Hackney.Beasley was back in action on 72 minutes this time forcing Hall into a save right on his goal line before the lead was extended in the 79th minute.With the Stone defense in tatters Danny Griggs tore down the left side of goal before pulling the ball back into the path of Matt Blake lurking just outside the right hand edge of the area.Steadying the ball with his right foot, `Blakey` moved across to the edge of the D before making further space and letting fly with a shot that whistled between the central defensive partnership of Maguire and Byrne past Hall into the bottom right hand corner of the net.Steve Davis elected to shuffle the pack 10 minutes before normal time by introducing Danny Smith at right back with Paul Donnelly moving to the right of midfield whilst Andy Bott took a seat in the dug out.With five minutes of normal time remaining `The Dabbers` kept the pedal to the floor and when Richard Smith arrived from the back for a taste of the front end action he was fouled thus providing Danny Griggs with an opportunity to demonstrate his dead ball skills.But,despite a well struck kick, the shot was delivered straight into the arms of Hall before further changes were effected with Blake and Beasley making way for Stuart Scheuber and Michalis Chailis.`Micha` was very unlucky with a left foot shot that was driven into the side netting on the right,a link up between Griggs and Kinsey concluded with `Kins` strike saved by Hall on his goal line but,the rout was complete a minute from normal time.With Dominoes unable to escape from their own half Chailis used his craft to make space deep on the right before tucking a well struck left foot shot underneath the body of Hall from 15 yards to complete a well deserved victory,albeit just when Nantwich needed it most.

After the whistle a much relieved Steve Davis commented: “ We found it difficult in the early part of the game to break down their 4 – 5 -1 formation,however, persistence paid dividends and we overran them in the second half to complete a well deserved victory”.

Match report written by Phil Johnson