Nantwich Town 3
Buxton 2
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Saturday 15th November.2008.

NANTWICH TOWN 3 vs BUXTON 2
Dave Whittaker.70 James Turley.8
Danny Griggs.72 Gavin Knight.61
Robin Gibson.81

Nantwich: Jones. Smith. Tickle. Tinson. Whittaker. Parkinson© (Gibson 46). Carter. Blackhurst (Beeston 35). Walker (Shotton 85). Lennon. Griggs. Substitutes: Gibson. Jarrett. Naggington. Shotton. Beeston.

Buxton: Backhouse. Lees. Agus. Liversedge (Brodie 74). Anderson. Stevens. Ghaichem (Balfe 90). Towey ©. Reet (Wharton 79). Knight. Turley. Substitutes: Balfe. Ellis. Brodie. Wharton. Hartley.


Referee: Mr .P. Dunn Attendance: 603

Buxton were the first to show, with a first minute strike from midfielder Neil Stevens testing Lee Jones after good link up play between Gavin Knight and Michael Towey allowed Stevens to shoot unchallenged from outside the area – meanwhile, Ashley Carter’s punt forward into the path of the unmarked Michael Lennon was seized by Buxton ‘keeper Chris Backhouse just ahead of Lennon’s intended strike from the right hand edge of the area. Carter was again to the fore when he collected the ball in midfield – passed to Lennon, who in turn fed Glyn Blackhurst but, just as the Nantwich influential midfielder was about to shoot the pace of the ball edged it away leaving Blackhurst with only a weak close range shot to show for his efforts. For Buxton, winger JamesTurley broke free along the Nantwich left before shooting from an angle – the ball finishing a mere yard wide of the near post before Nantwich returned with a move involving Carter and Walker but after Carter passed to the unmarked Walker deep on the Buxton left the ball skimmed away on the greasy surface just as Walker stretched to bring the ball under control.

Inexplicably, Nantwich went off the boil for a spell and when Buxton broke in the 8th minute down the Nantwich left a cross from midfielder Jimmy Ghaichem found Turley unmarked on the opposite flank but despite the presence of Carter, Turley advanced along the edge of the 6 yard box to fire past the diving Jones to give the visitors the lead. On the quarter hour Phil Parkinson worked space deep along the Buxton left before squaring to Blackhurst in the 6 yard box but despite the rising Nantwich midfielder getting purchase on the ball Buxton ‘keeper Backhouse was on hand to claim the bullet header from under the bar. But for the remainder of the half Nantwich laboured in their efforts to get back on terms with the exception of a blistering 20 yard strike from Lennon for which Backhouse excelled to get a hand to the shot close to his left hand post. On the half hour Nantwich were dealt the first of two blows to their midfield when Blackhurst suffered a heavy bow to the back of his head and neck resulting in the groggy No.8 retiring eventually be replaced by Mark Beeston whilst right on the stroke of half time, Phil Parkinson suffered injury to his right knee and right foot that necessitated the ‘Dabbers’ captain being taken to hospital for treatment.

HT: Nantwich Town 0 vs Buxton 1

The second half was in complete contrast to the first period although in the early stages Nantwich didn’t look as though they had a goal between them and they were to concede for a second time in the 61st minute when Gavin Knight collected a loose ball 20 yards out on the Nantwich right before letting fly with a super strike that flew past Jones into the top far corner of the net. However, after changing to a 3 – 4 – 3 formation, that included Whittaker moving from centre of defence to attack, Nantwich looked a different side with the move proving a master stroke, particularly after Whittaker’s presence gradually unsettled the Buxton defence before Whittaker seized advantage to pull a goal back for the ‘Dabbers’ in the 70th minute. And that signalled a Nantwich revival, that for long periods looked worlds away. Two minutes later, Danny Griggs powered along the Buxton left before cutting inside and executing an absolute magnificent strike that had all the beating of Backhouse before hitting the top far corner of the net. Buxton were stunned before being sunk by a superb 25 yard strike in the 81st minute from super sub Robin Gibson that despite Backhouse getting a hand to it the power on the shot was so severe, the back of the net ballooned.

Nantwich head coach Steve Davis was initially stuck for words but then said: - “What a come back. That’s character for you. We started off fairly well but then went right off the boil through a mixture of poor passing and being second to the ball. However, after the hour we decided to bring Dave Whittaker forward into attack – changed the system to 3 - 4 -3 and after that the Buxton defence couldn’t handle ’Whitt’. Great comeback - 5 unbeaten going into the FA Trophy next weekend but we are looking a little battered at the moment, so hopefully the midweek break will allow one or two of the lads to recover”.

Match report written by Phil Johnson