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

Match Report

Date: Saturday. 24th March. 2007.

NANTWICH TOWN 2 v FLIXTON 1
Andy Bott ( 45) Baylis. Pen. (81)
Andy Kinsey (78)

NANTWICH TOWN: Rob Hackney. Mark Fitton. Paul Taylor. Richard Smith. Paul Donnelly.Phil Parkinson. Murray McCulloch. Stuart Scheuber. Andy Kinsey. Andy Bott. Danny Griggs. Substitutes: Danny Smith. Adam Beasley. Jake Bowyer.

Nantwich,playing their 3rd game in the space of 8 day’s, were aiming to complete the double over Flixton and overtake 2nd placed Salford City in the division,albeit on goal difference. ‘The Dabbers’ were dealt a couple of blows an hour before kick off when left sided utility player Gyorgy Kiss reported with a high temperature,whilst forward Matt Blake, who came through a training session on Thursday, reported reaction to the knee he underwent surgery during the close season. A minutes silence was held before kick off in respect of former Nantwich Town manager Jimmy Wallace, who sadly passed away on Friday morning following a long illness and also for Stan Pattinson who, despite his 80 plus years, still cycled to Jackson Avenue for every game and whose funeral was held earlier in the week. Nantwich Town wish to convey their condolences to both families.

On a dry, but bumpy pitch, Nantwich were out of the blocks early and took the game to their visitors. As early as the 3rd minute Danny Griggs forced goalkeeper Duncan to conceded a right sided corner whilst Griggs followed up minutes later by forcing Flixton right back Hall into conceding a repeat of the same. The flag kick ,taken by Griggs, was well struck but, the ball frustratingly missed the head of unmarked skipper Phil Parkinson at the right hand post by the narrowest of margins before being turned for a second corner by a Flixton defender. From the dead ball kick Mark Fitton was unfortunate to plant a close ranger header into the arms of the goalkeeper Craig Duncan. Flixton created their first opportunity in the 17th minute but, Lundy’s close range header failed to trouble ‘Dabbers’ goalkeeper Rob Hackney. Danny Griggs 23rd minute angled ball from deep found the head of Andy Bott but, the close range header was well covered by Duncan in the visitors goal. Flixton were again on the defensive two minutes later when Griggs broke free from Hall to test Duncan with a well struck effort that forced the ‘keeper into a diving save on his line whilst moments later Stuart Scheuber’s close range attempt was seized on by Duncan, again on the goal line. Flixton responded through their main striking threat Hargreaves who tested Hackney with a 15 yard shot approaching the half hour, Hackney seizing the well struck effort right on the line. With the game approaching the half way stage ‘The Dabbers’ began to display signs of tiredness and in the 43rd minute Nantwich central defender Paul Donnelly made a rare mistake when he gifted the ball to Hargreaves whose effort from deep won Flixton a corner. From the flag kick Hackney came off his line in the process to collect the ball but fumbled, before Donnelly atoned with a well timed clearance. Several stoppages took the game five minutes into added time during which Nantwich deservedly tok the lead. With Flixton forced to defend deep, and shots raining backwards and forwards across the goalkeeper, Nantwich finally broke through after a Griggs in swinging free kick out on the left drifted through a sea of legs to find the unmarked Bott who touched the ball home from close range for his 24th of the season.
Nantwich began brightly in the second half and Bott was again unlucky when a Paul Taylor 47th minute angled shot into the 6 yard box narrowly evaded the striker. Nantwich defender Mark Fitton followed up with a looping shot that was a shade too high for the unmarked Bott to reach whilst a 55th minute Nantwich corner from Griggs found the head of Bott but, the glancing close range header was held by Duncan on his line. Meanwhile, Nantwich found themselves having to back track on several occasions as Flixton sought the equalizer but, Griggs eventually came to the rescue when he powered forward from the left, just inside his own half, to place his side in attack on the hour mark. Flixton elected to replace midfielder Barnes with Grandison in the 63rd minute with the change providing an immediate effect when striker Lundy struck an albeit wide effort from just inside the Nantwich half. Flixton right back Neil Hall,who had been given a torrid time by Griggs,was replaced by Howard in the 73rd minute. Following a period of indifferent play Nantwich reasserted themselves and went further ahead in the 78th minute. Fitton picked up the ball, deep inside his own half before making a forward run and bringing Murray McCulloch into play just inside the Flixton half. The diminutive right sided midfielder progressed deep before delivering a perfect square ball into the path of Kinsey. Challenged by a defender, Kinsey took the ball away to the left before cutting a close range angled shot across the bows of the goal keeper into the bottom right hand corner of the net for his 29th of the season. Kinsey was denied a further opportunity in the 80th minute before the game switched ends with the visitors awarded a penalty after Flixton captain Baylis went down in the box. Baylis rose from his feet to tuck the 81st minute penalty away whilst 3 minutes later Nantwich skipper Parkinson made way for Adam Beasley in midfield. Nantwich continued to push for a further goal late in the game during which period defender Mark Ayres was given his marching orders after he made a crude tackle on Andy Kinsey before reacting with behavior that referee Steve Bennett judged as violent conduct. The hard earned win returns Nantwich to second in the NWCL 1st Division ahead of promotion rivals Salford City,albeit on goal difference. ‘The Dabbers’ take a midweek break before visiting Bacup Borough next weekend.

A delighted Nantwich head coach Steve Davis reflected: “ We were the better side and created at least eight chances in the first half. The goals from ‘Botty’ and ‘Kins’ were well taken and we deserved the win despite looking a little jaded having played three times in eight day’s. I am especially pleased because the lads responded well having displayed a poor performance earlier in the week that cost us at least a share of the points”.

Match report written by Phil Johnson