Spalding United 1
Nantwich Town 4
League (NPL Division 1 South)

Match Report

UniBond League First Division South

Spalding United 1 v NANTWICH TOWN 4
Ian Forvargue.65. Kinsey.Pen.17. O’Loughlin.35.75.Carter.88.

Spalding United: Ian Pledger. Sam Wadieh. Adam Buckley (Ward 71). Andy Stanhope. Sean Pearson. Danny George ©. Luke Forbes. Ian Forvague. Shane Garvie. Garry Nimmo. Ben Garrick (Hargreaves 46). Substitutes: Dennis Rhule. Kevin Ward. Danny Hargreaves.

NANTWICH TOWN: Lee Jones. Paul Donnelly. Gyorgy Kiss. Richard Smith. Charlie O’Loughlin. Phil Parkinson ©. Ashley Carter. Glyn Blackhurst (Taylor 27). Andy Kinsey. Robin Gibson (Mellor 86). Adam Beasley. Substitutes: Ryan Dicker. Paul Taylor. Kelvin Mellor.

Nantwich introduced Port Vale loan signing 18 year old first year professional defender Charlie O’Loughlin in their line up at bottom club Spalding United. Meanwhile, ‘The Dabbers’ were without influential winger Danny Griggs who sustained as knee injury during Tuesday’s defeat against Cammell Laird.

Heavy overnight frost, followed by light rain, contrived to create a very heavy surface at Spalding United’s community stadium, situated in the heart of the small Lincolnshire Town.

Nantwich went ahead in the 17th minute courtesy of an Andy Kinsey penalty awarded after Ashley Carter’s close range shot was handled by Spalding centre half Andy Stanhope.

A thigh injury sustained by ‘Dabbers’ midfielder Glyn Blackhurst in the 27th minute led to the introduction of Paul Taylor from the bench ,meanwhile Nantwich were producing sustained attacks without seriously prising open the Spalding defence. During Spalding’s first attack of note Lee Jones pulled off a good save from midfielder Luke Forbes whilst at the other end, Spalding custodian Ian Pledger saved a close range header from Andy Kinsey.

Nantwich went further ahead through Charlie O’Loughlin in the 35th minute. In the build up to the goal, Kinsey moved wide on the right hand edge of the Spalding area before delivering a delightful square cross into a crowded goal mouth where O’Loughlin timed his move perfectly before rising to crash a bullet header over the defence and goal keeper into the back of the net.

Meanwhile, the central defensive partnership of Richard Smith and Charlie O’Loughlin were thwarting every move of the pacy Gary Nimmo and his strike partner Shane Garvie but, it was Spalding left back Adam Buckley who showed the greatest threat in the first half when his strike from distance was denied only by the reaction of Jones who tipped the effort behind for a corner.

Nantwich created better openings in the second half but once again, were short of an essential finish. The introduction of Danny Hargreaves gave Spalding a much needed outlet and the ploy paid dividend in the 65th minute when the substitute winger threaded a ball into the path of midfielder Forfargue whose clinical finish from inside the box gave Jones no chance.

That proved to be a wake up call for ‘The Dabbers’ who stretched their lead through O’Loughlin in the 75th minute when he outfoxed the Spalding defence before getting on the end of a Paul Donnelly corner and powering an unstoppable header into the back of the net from the edge of the 6 yard box.

To their credit, the division’s bottom side continued to battle but, they had no answer to the introduction of Kelvin Mellor late in the game. Ashley Carter moved to the front line in place of the injured Robin Gibson to partner Andy Kinsey whilst Mellor slotted in behind Carter. Between them, they simply tore apart the left side of the Spalding defence and Carter deservedly got on the Nantwich score sheet when he collected yet another Mellor perfectly timed inside ball before shooting past Pledger from 10 yards in the 88th minute. In between, Kinsey was denied a close range effort by Pledger whilst in a further opportunity from close range, the Nantwich striker shot over.

Head coach Steve Davis was naturally delighted with the win and commented: “ We started really well and our defence was sound. The loss of Glyn Blackhurst proved not to be too damaging and apart from one sleepy moment we retained our shape throughout the game. After three defeats this month, we needed that result and credit to all the players for a fine afternoons work”.

‘Dabbers’ captain Phil Parkinson was quick to praise the younger members of the winning side when he said: “ I can’t think of anyone in the league at this level who are playing with a 16 year old and two 18 year old’s in their side. Consistency is the key but, apart from that sloppy goal we conceded, the lads did really well and we more than deserved the result”.

Note: Tuesday 27th November. Colwyn Bay (P) v NANTWICH TOWN (P)
Colwyn Bay involved in FA Trophy replay.

Match report written by Phil Johnson