Prescot Cables 2
Nantwich Town 0
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Tuesday 28th October.2008

Prescot Cables 2 v NANTWICH TOWN
Byers.30.
Moore.40 (P)

Prescot Cables:Hibbert. Smith. Flood. O’Donnell. Moore. McIntosh. Cooney. Taylor. Byers. Connolly. S. Williams. Substitutes: McEwan. McCulloch. Mahamah. Henders. P.Williams.

NANTWICH TOWN: Jones. Smith. Tickle. Tinson. O’Loughlin. Parkinson©. Beeston (Griggs 20). Blackhurst (Carter 60). Walker. Lennon (Whittaker 60). Naggington. Substitutes: Griggs. Carter. Whittaker. Shotton. Jack.

Attendance: 187
Match Report

A 1pm pitch inspection was required before this game was given the go ahead. Meanwhile, Nantwich were aiming to complete the double over their hosts after a brace from Liam Shotton and a solo from Robin Gibson provided a 3-2 victory back at the end of August whilst Prescot were anxious for league points having propped up the Premier Division almost since day one of the season.

Nantwich opened brightly and had a good ten minute spell at the start but as the half wore on they gradually lost concentration, passes went astray allowing the physically strong Prescot to keep an otherwise out of sorts looking Nantwich at bay and as the half progressed it was the bottom club who looked the most likely to score. Meanwhile, ’The Dabbers’ suffered an early blow to their midfield when Mark Beeston was forced to retire through injury with Danny Griggs coming on as his replacement in the 20th minute whilst there followed a lengthy delay to proceedings after an assistant referee was taken ill. But, despite the disruption Prescot were eager to take advantage of some dire play by Nantwich and on the half hour were gifted a goal scoring opportunity when a poor back pass from Nantwich striker Dave Walker fell to Prescot striker Darren Byers who made no mistake from close range to beat Lee Jones..

But there was more suffering to come for Nantwich. Five minutes before the break defender Richard Smith was adjudged to have brought down Prescot winger Williams in the box and from the resultant penalty Prescot centre half Steve Moore finished cleanly from the spot. For Nantwich, the only real opportunity of note was a shot from Alan Naggington that brought a terrific save out of home custodian Zac Hibbert.

Whatever was said in the Nantwich dressing room at half time certainly had some effect as ‘The Dabbers’ produced an improved second half performance. Danny Griggs and Dave Walker were unlucky to witness their close range shots cleared off the line but on the hour Nantwich endured further disruption to their midfield when Glyn Blackhurst was forced to retire through injury. Whilst Nantwich chances were, by and large at a premium, Hibbert had to be at his best late on after Griggs tested him with a rasping drive that must have got Hibbert’s blood flowing again after having to stand for long periods in the freezing cold with not a lot to do on the night.

Nantwich head coach Steve Davis was highly critical of his side’s performance when he said: “That was the worst performance I’ve seen from a Nantwich side this season – worse even than the defeat to Ossett Town, and I didn’t think I would see one worse than that! Everyone looked as though they were frightened to make a mistake – it was shocking. Perhaps the manner in which we went out of the FA Cup was lingering in their minds but if that is the case, they had better clear their heads by Saturday for the FA Trophy”.

Despite the defeat Nantwich retain 13th position in the Premier Division table.

Match report written by Phil Johnson