Nantwich Town 3
Stocksbridge Park Steels 0
League (NPL Division 1 South)

Match Report

UniBond League First Division South

Saturday 29th March.2008.

NANTWICH TOWN 3 v Stocksbridge Park Steels 0
Dave Walker. 25.
Adam Beasley. 48.
Christopher Clements.92.

Nantwich Town: Lee Jones. Paul Donnelly. Gyorgy Kiss. Richard Smith. Paul Taylor. Phil Parkinson © (Blackhurst.76). Ashley Carter. Adam Beasley (Linford.81). Pavol Suhaj. Dave Walker (Clements.67). Danny Griggs. Substitutes: Glyn Blackhurst. Nick Linford. Christopher Clements.

Stocksbridge Park Steels: Andy Jefferey. Richard Adams. Darren Schofield. Brett Lovell. Steve Kennedy ©. John Beggs (Ward.61). Ian Richards. Steve Wilkinson (Carter.61). Andy Ring. Carl Fothergill. Alwyn Riley. Substitutes: Mark Ward. Joe Carter. Lee Stratford.

Referee: Mr R.J Parker. Attendance: 434.

Nantwich were without Andy Kinsey (head injury) whilst Ryan Dicker was rested ahead of Tuesday’s Cheshire Senior Cup Final. Meanwhile, ‘The Dabbers’ were boosted by the return from injury of left back Gyorgy Kiss and goal keeper Lee Jones whilst facial injury victim Richard Smith declared himself fit enough to do battle in the heart of defence. Dave Walker started in place of the departed Nick Farquharson with loan Crewe Alexandra Academy midfielder Chris Clements coming off the bench to replace him in the second half but there was no place for Thursday’s other signing, winger Thomas Birch.

Despite the wet and windy conditions, Nantwich adapted better to the conditions. Playing in a 4-4-2 formation, with the new pairing of Suhaj and Walker in the front line, they took the game to Stocksbridge from the start. Club captain Phil Parkinson slipped a well timed pass through to Dave Walker in the 6th minute before the recently signed striker lost his footing on the heavy surface just as he was about to turn for goal.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Richard Smith conceded a corner from a Darren Schofield shot before Lee Jones responded to the high incoming ball and claimed it with confidence at the far post. From the clearance, Nantwich built an attack along the visitor’s right before Walker flicked on to Suhaj who was denied a shot by the narrowest of margins after Jeffery came off his line to gather the ball.

On the quarter hour, Stocksbridge winger Alwyn Riley tested Jones with a free kick from outside the box followed by Andy Ring bringing strike partner Carl Fothergill into play, who then drove a low shot from close range into the arms of the waiting Jones. But, despite that spark by promotion chasing Stocksbridge they were left chasing the game for a while. A five man Nantwich move in the 22nd minute bore a promising look, but despite Walker squaring from deep no home player was on hand on the opposite flank to take advantage of the undefended ball. However, three minutes later Walker claimed his first goal since signing for ‘The Dabbers’. Stocksbridge yielded to pressure deep on their right hand side before conceding a corner. From the in swinging Danny Griggs corner, the ball dropped in the 6 yard box before Parkinson reacted quickest to play in Walker who drove the ball through a sea of legs from 5 yards out into the back of the net. Stocksbridge made attempts to hit back immediately but were continually stifled by the resolute home side, who appear to have woken up to the fact they are in with a serious chance of a play off place.

Ashley Carter’s tenacity in the 29th minute won Nantwich a further corner after Jefferey was forced to palm behind meanwhile, a Stocksbridge free kick was dealt with by a confident looking home defence before Adam Beasley latched on to a clearance and volleyed narrowly over the bar from outside the box. At the other end, Riley tested Jones with a shot from inside the box before Griggs powered a fierce drive toward goal from distance only to be denied by the legs of visitors centre half Steve Kennedy.

Ten minutes before the break, Paul Taylor stretched to latch on to a Griggs free kick from distance but was unable to wrap his right foot accurately enough around the ball before placing the effort wide. A minute before the break, Stocksbridge threatened through Riley after the winger progressed deep along the Nantwich right flank before delivering a powerful shot that flashed across the face of goal and, with no support on hand, the ball careered out for a throw-in.

In truth, goals apart, the second half largely belonged to Nantwich. However, during the second minute of the new period Adam Beasley produced a valuable defensive clearance when midfielder Ian Richards advanced far enough to place a shot at goal from just inside the box. Nantwich then reversed the flow of the game and in the 47th minute, Ashley Carter’s run to deep on the right allowed him the opportunity to cross to the far post from where Suhaj was denied with a close range diving header by some brave goal keeping by Jefferey. But, Nantwich were not to be denied further and a minute later deservedly went ahead through Adam Beasley. During the build up, Jefferey’s attempted clearance was collected half way inside his own half by the unmarked Beasley whose first time volley arched over the goal keeper before hitting the back of the net.

On 55 minutes, the busy Jefferey just managed to smother a Suhaj effort before visitors midfielder Beggs placed a shot from an angle that failed to trouble the Nantwich ‘keeper whilst Stocksbridge right back Adams then placed a close range header wide of the left hand post. And that, was virtually the last to be seen of Stocksbridge as an attacking force. ‘Ash’ Carter’s 70th minute strike flew off a defender to safety - Suhaj then refused to give up on three consecutive tackles on the half way line before playing in the well positioned Beasley who was then denied an unchallenged run on goal by the offside flag. Considering the conditions ‘The Dabbers’ were playing some very attractive football in front of another large gathering at The Weaver Stadium. A seven man Nantwich move resulted in a late corner although, disappointingly nothing came of it and Stocksbridge were allowed to clear.

Clements, who had earlier replaced Walker, gradually began to make his mark and produced a series of promising moves that allowed Nantwich to probe deeper in the opposition half. Carter brought a great save out of the under pressure Jefferey in the 87th minute whilst two minutes later, good link up play between Clements – Taylor and Suhaj, was only denied when Jefferey came way off his line to gather the ball. But, the on loan Crewe Academy midfielder was not to be denied a goal in his first outing. In added time, the 18 year old, who has scored 11 times for the under 18’s,including a hat-trick against Premiership Middlesborough, ran deep toward the left hand side of goal before placing a shot that Jefferey somehow managed to divert. However, the tenacity of the youngster won him the advantage after he pulled the ball back from the bye line and lifted it over the Stocksbridge goal keeper before it nestled in the bottom far corner of the net to wrap up a very satisfying afternoon against one of ‘The Dabbers’ foremost promotion challengers. The win, plus results elsewhere, places Nantwich within two points of second placed Cammell Laird although the Merseysider’s have a game in hand.

Nantwich head coach Steve Davis was more than just pleased with the result when he said: “That was a complete team performance by us, and we still managed to play our football despite the difficult conditions. Every Nantwich player displayed commitment throughout and they (Stocksbridge) can have no complaint about the result. But whilst it is encouraging to have a four point cushion over our nearest challengers (Grantham) we have no intention of mentally dropping into the comfort zone. At the cost of repeating myself, every league game will be treated as a cup final and only then will we see if we are worthy of a promotion play-off place, which I believe we are”.

Rodney Densem Wines ‘Man of the March’. Paul Taylor.

Match report written by Phil Johnson