Nantwich Town 1
Sheffield FC 0
League (NPL Division 1 South)

Match Report

UniBond League First Division South

Saturday 15th March.2008.

NANTWICH TOWN 1 v Sheffield FC 0
Andy Kinsey.52.

Nantwich Town: Lee Jones. Paul Donnelly. Paul Taylor. Richard Smith. Ryan Dicker. Phil Parkinson ©. Ashley Carter. Nick Linford. Andy Kinsey (Kiss.85). Dave Walker. Danny Griggs (Blackhurst.60). Substitutes: Glyn Blackhurst. Gyorgy Kiss. Omar Mahmood.

Sheffield FC: Daniel Haystead. Gavin Smith. Paul Smith. Mathew Lowton. Asa Ingall (Dolby.67). Tom Jones ©. Steven Hawes. Darryl Winter (Roney.85). Vill Powell. Jamie Smith (Ward.67). Peter Davey. Substitutes: Chris Dolby. Robert Ward. Mathew Roney.

Referee: Mr S.Castle. Attendance. 453.

Nantwich were aiming to complete the treble over Sheffield FC in what was a vital 6 pointer at The Weaver Stadium. Still battling with injury and suspensions ‘The Dabbers’ were hit further when on loan Crewe Alexandra striker Nick Farquharson reported sick with a bout of flu. Farquharson scored a hat trick at The Weaver Stadium against Sheffield FC last month. In his place, Nantwich gave a debut to Dave Walker, signed from New Zealand club Canterbury FC on Friday following international clearance.

In general, this match was a tight affair, with neither side creating a great deal whilst at the same time, giving little away either. Sheffield striker Vill Powell was the first to show when he turned inside Richard Smith in the 15th minute before putting in a low shot from just inside the box, albeit with little power, allowing Lee Jones to make a comfortable save at the foot of his near post.

Sheffield, courtesy of centre half Asa Ingall, had the ball in the net in the 25th minute before the close range glancing header was ruled out for offside. Ten minutes before the break, a frantic scramble in the Sheffield 6 yard box witnessed powerful strikes from Andy Kinsey - Dave Walker and Danny Griggs deflected away from goal by a sea of flying legs. However, 4 minutes from the end of the half, Andy Kinsey looked odds on to score when he jinxed around his marker before picking his spot only to finish by firing wide of the target from 12 yards out.

Half time: Nantwich Town 0 v Sheffield FC 0

The second half continued were it left off, tight in all departments with few chances of a break . But, Nantwich finally made the break through, taking the lead in the 52nd minute through Andy Kinsey. In the build up to the goal, ‘The Dabbers’ won a free kick just off the left hand edge of the box following a foul on Griggs. After rising to his feet, Griggs delivered an inch perfect dead ball kick to the far post from where Kinsey climbed above his marker to plant a header back across goal through the despairing hands of Daniel Haystead into the far top corner of the net.

Sheffield responded by pushing Nantwich on the defensive for a short period before the game returned to being a tight affair. However, Sheffield left back Paul Smith brought a terrific one handed save from Lee Jones in the 56th minute when his powerful free kick from outside the box went all the way through to the foot of the near post from where Jones dived before hurting himself in the process. However, following some delay, the Nantwich ‘keeper was able to return following treatment.

Meanwhile, Nantwich exchanged Griggs for Blackhurst and placed Walker wide on the left in a 4 – 5 – 1 formation. With the extra man in midfield it had the desired effect of halting Sheffield’s attempts at deep incursions into the Nantwich half. However, despite the ability to break quicker from midfield Nantwich found the Sheffield defence a rugged outfit indeed. Rarely was there a door left open and even when play was spread to the wings the visitors were on hand to close their hosts down to good effect.

With referee Mr S. Castle adding 4 minutes of extra time tension was high around The Weaver Stadium. Then, with barely seconds to the final whistle, Lee Jones came to ‘The Dabbers’ rescue, and probably assured maximum points for his side, when he made a timely intervention to halt the progress of Powell just off the edge of the 6 yard box by literally gathering the ball from the striker’s feet, albeit at the risk of bringing the Sheffield player down in the process. He didn’t, a huge sigh of relief went around the ground and Nantwich move up a place to 4th ahead of Tuesday’s visit from lowly Shepshed Dynamo with the opportunity of going 3rd in the table ahead of Grantham Town.

Nantwich head coach Steve Davis expressed both his relief and delight at the result by saying:- “ We said before the game, what matters most is the result, not the performance. And so it proved. Sheffield are a good side, difficult to play against, especially in defence, where they are difficult to break down. With the run in to the end of season well underway that is how games are likely to pan out for us as teams scrap for points and attempt to deny us at the same time. If it means battling to a promotion finish by sacrificing our football, then that is how it will have to be”.

Rodney Densem Wines ‘Man of the Match’ award. Paul Taylor. Nantwich Town.

Match report written by Phil Johnson