Nantwich Town 2
Brigg Town 0
League (NPL Division 1 South)

Match Report

UniBond League First Division South

Saturday 10th November.2007.

Attendance 554.
NANTWICH TOWN 2 v Brigg Town 0
Danny Griggs 8. 48. (Pen)

NANTWICH TOWN: Lee Jones. Kelvin Mellor.Gyorgy Kiss. Richard Smith. Ryan Dicker. Phil Parkinson ©). Ashley Carter. Glyn Blackhurst. Andy Kinsey. Robin Gibson (Southern 78) . Danny Griggs (Beasley 88). Substitutes. Nick Linford. Adam Beasley. Nathan Southern.

Brigg Town: Damien Steer. Marin Altoft. Tommy Spall. John Borland. Lee Cochrane ©. Scott Hellewell. Jack Muldoon. Lee Warren. Jason Maxwell. Karl Slack. Paul Grimes. Substitutes: Michael Jacklin. Robert Watson. Johnny Nicholls.

Nantwich named youth team players Kelvin Mellor and Nathan Southern in their squad for the match against Brigg Town. 17 year old Mellor, making his first team debut, slotted in at right back in place of the injured Paul Donnelly whilst 16 year old Southern, a prolific scorer for the Nantwich U17’s, replaced Robin Gibson late in the second half. Meanwhile, the home side were looking to complete the double over their visitors having beaten then 4-0 back on the 22nd of September whilst Danny Griggs was hoping to score his 100th goal, albeit in front of yet another very healthy attendance at The Weaver Stadium.

In wet and blustery conditions Nantwich opened brightly and in the 5th minute, ‘Ash’ Carter won a ball on the right before finding Griggs on the opposite flank who followed by sending in a dipping shot across the box but the effort was out of range of the well placed Andy Kinsey hovering on the edge of the 6 yard box.

However, Nantwich deservedly went ahead in the 8th minute through Danny Griggs who celebrated his 100th goal for ‘The Dabbers’ since debuting as a substitute in November 1998 away to Workington. In the build up to the celebratory goal, Griggs threw off the attention of Brigg right back Martin Altoft before looking up and firing an angled shot from the edge of the box across the front of Damien Steer into the opposite corner of the net.

Kinsey delivered a close range back header from a lengthy Blackhurst throw-in during the first quarter hour but, Steer covered the effort well at the foot of the right hand post. On 16 minutes, the home side won back to back corners before Blackhurst planted a close range header a yard wide of the target from the second flag kick, whilst from a later corner, Robin Gibson’s ball to Kinsey deflected off a Brigg defender for clearance. Debutant right back Mellor kept winger Grimes quiet in early exchanges, demonstrating maturity for his age with some positive play and as the game wore on was encouraged to go further forward by head coach Steve Davis.

However, Brigg, despite containing their hosts, made little impact ,that was, until the 28th minute when winger Paul Grimes found space inside the box before testing home debutant goal keeper Lee Jones with a firm effort that the 6’ 2” ‘Dabbers’ No.1 held with confidence from a yard out. Meanwhile, at the other end, Kinsey had a close range header saved on the line whilst on the stroke of half time, Brigg centre half Borland’s shot from distance fell into the waiting arms of Jones.

Half time: NANTWICH TOWN 1 v Brigg Town 0

Within 3 minutes of the restart Nantwich increased their lead through a Danny Griggs penalty. Ahead of the spot kick, Robin Gibson had collected the ball on the left of the Brigg 18 yard area before making a run toward the edge of the 6 yard box. In a one on one with Brigg left back Tommy Spall, both players fell to ground before referee Mr Blackwood pointed to the spot, Griggs confidently dispatching the penalty despite Steer diving to his left before the ball flew under his left arm into the back of the net.

Despite trailing to a two goal deficit Brigg, to their credit, made a fight of it, and as the second half progressed, actually came more into the game. Grimes produced a couple of shots around the 50th minute mark that, despite being off target, gave notice that the Lincolnshire side were not about to capitulate. However, Brigg sailed close to the wind in the 62nd minute when Kinsey sent in a cross to the right hand post before Steer lost contact with the ball, Blackhurst stealing in from the edge of the box before colliding with a defender and both players then going to ground in the tussle for the ball. ‘Ash’ Carter contrived to get on the score sheet in the 65th minute when Kinsey fed him a tasty ball from inside the box but, Carter’s effort unfortunately falling inches wide of the target.

A 65th minute Griggs free kick looked promising after the 22 yard looping dead ball kick found the head of the well placed Kinsey before Steer just managed to hold on his line. At the other end, a Jack Muldoon shot from 15 yards lacked power, giving Jones no problems before the home side went on to win a couple of corners that failed to threaten. 16 year old youth team striker Nathan Southern replaced Robin Gibson in the 78th minute whilst at the other end, Lee Warner’s 25 yard 80th minute shot was brilliantly turned one handed away from goal by Jones. The Nantwich ‘keeper was called into action again in the 82nd minute when his alertness allowed him to block an effort from Muldoon whilst two minutes from normal time, he made a good save from Grimes at 15 yards. In between, Nathan Southern was unlucky when his searing pace took him toward the edge of the 6 yard box in an effort to latch on to a long pass. However, on this occasion, the velocity of the ball proved a little too much for the youngster and Steer judged his timing well before scooping the ball, albeit almost off the feet of the promising looking young Nantwich Town striker.

Nantwich head coach Steve Davis reflected: “I thought we played reasonably well in difficult conditions. That said, after Danny’s goal we sat back a little, and although we created chances, we should have applied greater pressure in seeking further goals. However, Brigg arrived here with a few new faces under new manager Steve Housham and were a better side than when we played them in September. I was pleased with Kelvin Mellor’s contribution in his first full senior game. It’s a lot different playing at this level as opposed to youth football and as expected, he tired during the last quarter hour but, to his credit, lasted the 90 minutes, whilst Nathan Southern was unlucky not to get on the end of a ball into the box late in the game. Promising though!”

The win elevates Nantwich back to 6th place in the division but, will be anxious for the return from injury of several key players as they enter a run from now up until the end of the year with a batch of potentially difficult league fixtures starting with Stocksbridge Park Steels this weekend.

Match report written by Phil Johnson