Nantwich Town 1
Leigh Genesis 1
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Tuesday 9th September. 2008. Kick off 7.45pm

NANTWICH TOWN 1 v LEIGH GENESIS 1
Glyn Blackhurst. 75. Jordan Stepian. 74.

NANTWICH TOWN: Jones. Taylor. Smith. Tinson. O’Loughlin. Parkinson © (Hawthorne 77). Carter. Blackhurst. Shotton (Walker 62). Lennon (Naggington 62). Griggs. Substitutes: Heler. Walker. Hawthorne. Beasley. Naggington.

LEIGH GENESIS: Dickinson. Wilson. Marsh-Evans. Field (Goulding 80). Teague. Fitzgerald © Maylett (Stepian 60). Holland. Smyth. Berkeley. Watt. Substitutes: Goulding. Stepian. McHugh. Booth. Porter.

A minutes silence was held before kick off in memory of the late Peter Hallett, local non-league reporter for ‘The Sentinel’ who tragically passed away last Friday morning following a heart attack aged 76.

Despite the recent heavy rains the new pitch at the Weaver Stadium was in fine condition for the visit of the currently nomadic Leigh Genesis whose under construction new 10,000 seater stadium will not be available until November at the earliest. Meanwhile, Nantwich made one change to the line-up that drew at Whitby Town at the weekend - Ashley Carter replacing Peter Heler in midfield.


Referee: Mr O.Yates. Attendance: 547


MATCH REPORT

Nantwich were slow starters – Leigh striker Berkeley twice going close in the opening minutes before the home side kicked into gear and in the 3rd minute a long throw from the visitors right by Blackhurst found Shotton in a crowded 6 yard box but despite the young striker making an attempted header the ball dropped amongst a sea of legs followed by a desperate clearance up field. However, as the half moved toward the quarter hour mark Nantwich were finding it difficult to rest the ball from a side that contained half a dozen full time professionals and with pace spread around the 4-4-2 Leigh side Nantwich at times were left chasing shadows.

Lee Jones was the busier of the two ‘keepers – excelling after Field tested him from 20 yards that the Nantwich custodian reacted to by tipping over the powerful shot at the expense of a corner and it was the same player who again worked Jones with a right sided free kick that went straight through to the Nantwich ‘keeper after reading the flight of the ball well to hold at the far post. At the other end, a further long throw special from Blackhurst again reached Shotton but who struggled to place a header on target from inside a crowded 6 yard box. The lively Berkeley broke through the Nantwich rear guard before rolling the ball into the path of fellow striker Smyth – Jones again coming to the rescue when he dived at the Leigh No.9’s feet to take the ball away. Former Port Vale defender Charlie 0’Loughlin produced a well timed last ditch tackle to halt the progress of Berkeley – albeit at the expense of a corner however, despite the continuing threats from the lively visitors, they had yet to hurt their hosts.

The half hour mark passed with Nantwich still fighting to keep the marauding Smyth and Berkeley, along with support from left winger Watt, at bay. Tinson, a rock in the Nantwich defence, performed well to head midfielder Fitzgerald’s close range header clear before Nantwich right back Taylor conceded a penalty 8 minutes from the break. The influential Field took the spot kick from which Jones produced a magnificent save at the foot of his left hand post to keep the score level. However, within moments of producing the penalty save Jones sustained a leg injury in a separate incident, Smith having to take the goal kicks after the pain proved too much for the left footed custodian.

However, despite the pressure Nantwich found themselves under they managed to carve out a great opportunity close to the break when Lennon combined with Carter to isolate the Leigh centre halves and goal keeper but, just when a goal looked odds on the pass from Lennon was too strong, leaving Carter without a finish.

Nantwich opened with more pace and purpose from the start of the second period and Parkinson was in great position to score from a Griggs free kick before disappointingly placing a close range header wide of the left hand post. For the opposition, playmaker Field shot wide before bringing Berkeley into play whose close range header also missed the target. Former Bury striker Jordan Stepian replaced Maylett on the hour whilst two minutes later Nantwich introduced Walker for Shotton and Naggington for Lennon, in the Nantwich front line. The effect was immediate – Naggington forcing Teague to concede a corner within seconds of coming on. Meanwhile, at the other end the magnificent Jones saved from Watt followed by a palmed clearance in a crowded 6 yard box, Nantwich skipper Parkinson making sure with a clearance header at the left hand post.

Leigh took the lead in the 74th minute after a free kick from the Nantwich right found substitute striker Stepian at the far post – the former league 2 player touching home from a couple of yards but the lead was short-lived after Nantwich swept up field from the restart – Blackhurst equalizing from a corner to set up a grandstand finish.

With less than a quarter hour remaining Hawthorne replaced Nantwich skipper Parkinson in midfield before Naggington went down in the area under challenge, referee Yates ignoring appeals for a penalty whilst the same player then gave support to Walker 7 minutes from normal time, Dickinson just managing to hold the close range shot as the change up front began to pull the Leigh back line out of position with effect. However, his opposite number Jones was struggling from a dead leg and was grateful to Smyth for missing the target by a mile as the match crept toward the finish. By and large Nantwich huffed and puffed their way through this match and without the centre half pairing of Tinson and O’Loughlin, might have paid the price. Meanwhile, despite a budget well in excess of their hosts and a clutch of full time players to boot Leigh failed to pick off an out of sorts looking Nantwich who will certainly need to step up a gear or two for the visit of FC United in the FA Cup this weekend.

Nantwich head coach Steve Davis gave his view of events as: - “ Poor in the first half, mildly better in the second whilst our two centre halves were different class. Even taking into account the pace Leigh had in their side we made hard work for ourselves with some poorly executed passes. In attack, the introduction of Dave Walker and Alan Naggington gave us a different dimension and we could have nicked it late on but the reality is, on this performance, it’s a point gained”.

Match report written by Phil Johnson