Whitby Town 0
Nantwich Town 0
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Saturday 6th September.2008.


WHITBY TOWN 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 0


NANTWICH TOWN: Jones. Taylor. Smith. Tinson. O’Loughlin. Parkinson ©. Heler (Carter 55). Blackhurst (Beasley 78). Shotton (Walker 55). Lennon. Griggs. Substitutes: Carter. Walker. Hawthorne. Beasley. Naggington.

Attendance: 302.


MATCH REPORT

Nantwich, unbeaten in their last 5 games, were unchanged for the long trip to Whitby Town. Spells of heavy rain left a great deal of surface water resting on the pitch ahead of kick-off but enterprising efforts by club officials (assisted by the referee) ensured the game, on the wind and rain swept North Yorkshire coast, went ahead. Meanwhile, Whitby Town, following a miserable opening start to their season, were hopeful of building on their midweek 5 – 2 home victory against Ossett Town, over the relatively in form Nantwich.

Whitby were first out of the blocks, taking the game to Nantwich with ‘Dabbers’ goal keeper Lee Jones having to be alert in the early stages to the activity going on around him. But for the main part, most of the action in the first period was concentrated in the midfield area, with neither side exercising any degree of control.

Following an uninspiring first half the home side attempted to exercise control with winger Karl Charlton proving the most dangerous. However, in the 53rd minute, Danny Griggs carved out a promising opportunity when the nippy ‘Dabbers’ winger cut inside the area before unleashed a rising shot that fizzed over deputy goal keeper Liversedge’s bar. That incident apart, Nantwich were making hard work of penetrating the Whitby back line and on 55 minutes Liam Shotton made way for Dave Walker whilst Ashley Carter replaced Peter Heler on the right wing.

With the match progressing toward the hour mark Nantwich still sought a way past the home defence, the net result that, for the most part the ‘Dabbers’ found the ball returning with regularity. Brunskill, having been upended by Charlie O’Loughlin just outside the area rose to his feet to place the resultant free kick over the bar whilst at the other end, a great opportunity came the way of substitute Dave Walker when a diving header from a Griggs free kick, fell narrowly wide of the target.

But despite a lacklustre performance by Nantwich, a further opportunity fell their way in the 64th minute. Lennon worked the ball in to the area before passing to Griggs – the Nantwich winger’s progress then halted by Huggins with a penalty resulting from the clumsy challenge. Griggs shook off the challenge to step up to the penalty spot but appeared to change his mind as to the direction he intended to take – the result – a less than powerful strike that rebounded off the foot of a post and a chance to snatch an otherwise undeserved lead wiped out.

Twenty minutes before normal time and a three man move involving substitute Lee Nogan, Danny Brunskill and Karl Charlton petered out when Charlton finished wide.

For Nantwich, on 78 minutes Adam Beasley replaced Glyn Blackhurst in midfield whilst in the remaining minutes, tired legs began to show – largely due to a very heavy pitch but it was Whitby who finished the stronger despite the handicap, placing an out of sorts Nantwich on the back foot that required an alert ‘Dabbers’ back line to keep a marauding North Yorkshire side from capitalising on the fading visitors.

Nantwich head coach Steve Davis summed the afternoon up thus: - “Our worst performance since the season began and in complete contrast to the excellent performance against Marine in midweek. It’s difficult to work out why we were so poor and to be fair, Whitby were the better side on the day. Maybe the time has arrived to freshen things up, make changes in certain areas and give players a start that haven’t featured on a regular basis up until now. Tuesday against Leigh Genesis will have to be better, full stop”.

Match report written by Phil Johnson