Nantwich Town 0
Cammell Laird 1
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Thursday 1st January.2009

NANTWICH TOWN 0 v CAMMELL LAIRD 1
Richie Foulkes.32

Nantwich: Jones. Beeston (Whittaker 61). Kiss. Tinson. Smith. Parkinson©. Carter. Gibson. Walker. Lennon (Southern 88). Griggs (Jack 82). Substitutes: Whittaker. Jack. Jarrett. Francis. Southern,

Cammell Laird: Al’Sumurie. Sheehan (Courtenay 89). Lynch. Atherton. Rendell. Clampitt. Jebb. Foulkes. Andrews. Hay © Gardner. Substitutes: Courtenay. Barrow, Brown. Pringle. Ward.

Referee. Mr S.P Bennett. Attendance. 932

MATCH REPORT

With only four UniBond League Premier Division games going ahead due to frozen pitches Nantwich had the opportunity to move into 6th place and continue into the New Year on a high after winning away at Buxton on Boxing Day. With the absence of Premiership and Football League matches on New Years Day the effect gave boost to the day’s attendance and despite the chilly conditions, a record crowd assembled at The Weaver Stadium.

Nantwich were first to show with Ashley Carter’s 3rd minute back heel to Michael Lennon inside the 6 yard box looking promising but just as Lennon was about to make the turn and shoot he lost his footing allowing Cammell Laird to clear. Moments later, good work by Gyorgy Kiss and Robin Gibson set up Lennon who was again out of luck when his close range shot was booted out of the 6 yard box. In the 10th minute, Robin Gibson powered forward before shooting from outside the area but again the visitors defence denied Nantwich after the ball cannoned off a defender to safety. Meanwhile, at the other end, Nantwich left back Kiss hooked the ball away after Laird’s striker Danny Andrews centre spelled danger when he cut in from the Nantwich right.

On the quarter hour, Nantwich striker Dave Walker was unlucky to see his close range header fall inches wide of the far post after winger Danny Griggs had crossed from deep on the visitors right to reach the well placed Walker whilst a minute later, the home side won the first corner of the half after Griggs free kick from 23 yards out was turned behind. In the 18th minute Griggs went down heavily under challenge inside the area just as he powered toward goal but appeals for a penalty were waved away by referee Bennett. Moments later, and in an almost repeat of the earlier incident, Lennon fell to earth under challenge inside the area and again, appeals for a penalty were waved away. To rub salt into the wound, Lennon was then cautioned for an alleged dive. For Cammell Laird, little was seen of them in attack up until the 20th minute when they managed to place Nantwich on the defensive for a short spell before Nantwich eventually broke away with Lennon again denied, this time by the legs of the prostrate Al’Sumurie after Lennon had shot from a mere 8 yards out followed moments later by Kiss who despite looking composed, blazed his shot over the bar.

In the 26th minute a further Nantwich move involving ‘Dabbers’ skipper Phil Parkinson and Walker was denied after the ‘Lairds’ goal keeper produced a stunning save before turning Walkers blistering shot behind for a corner. Then, just as the half hour approached, the visitors came into the game before undoing Nantwich in the 32nd minute with a ‘Beckham’ style free kick from ‘Lairds’ midfielder Richie Foulkes who bent the ball over the right hand edge of the wall leaving Jones rooted to his line and watch the ball finish in the bottom corner of the net. But in hindsight, it was an unnecessary free kick to give away, taking into account that Gibson handled the ball after he fell to ground for which referee Bennett decided there was no initial foul on the Nantwich midfielder. However, despite that lapse Nantwich pressed again and it was Gibson who again threatened this time with a 44th minute shot that struck the ‘keeper before rebounding to safety.

Half Time. Nantwich Town 0 v Cammell Laird 1

The second half opened with Lennon losing out to a couple of Laird’s defenders during his attempt to cut the ball back from the left hand side of the bye line whilst at the other end, Andrews shot from outside the area went straight through to Jones. In the 49th minute Carter’s promising run into the area ended when his shot cannoned off a defender before Kiss then disappointed with a 25 yard free kick that sailed high over the bar and then a great opportunity by Gibson to square the match wasted after the busy midfielder collected a pass from Griggs before firing across the body of Al’Sumurie with an angled drive that finished wide of the far post. At the other end, Foulkes collected a long range cross field ball from Anthony Sheehan after Lennon had initially lost out in a challenge in his attempt to bring Griggs into play – Foulkes then shooting unimpeded but on this occasion, his effort was considerably off target.

Just past the hour Dave Whittaker replaced Mark Beeston as Nantwich changed from 4-4-2 to 3-4-3 in an effort to get back on square terms. However, the frustration continued for ‘The Dabbers’ as shot after shot was either held by the ‘Lairds’ goal keeper or was blocked by the visitors defence. And then, in a further spell of Cammell Laird pressure Jones had to be alert to Foulkes and did well in the 65th minute to hold a firm strike from the dangerous midfielder. Former Tranmere Rovers striker Alex Hay then went close for the visitors with a 66th minute header before Jones held a close range effort from midfielder Eddie Jebb whilst moments later, Jones elected to leave his area to cut out a dangerous looking move from Hay. But in the 78th minute, play was halted for a ten minute spell due to a floodlight failure whilst shortly after the restart Rodney Jack replaced Griggs as Nantwich sought a different outlet when going forward. In the 80th minute, despite Walker being on hand, Lennon’s ball from deep fizzed between the ‘Laird’s’ defence and ‘keeper and out for a throw-in- Whittaker missed a cross from Kiss – Walker then had a couple of close range shots denied by Al’Sumurie before Jack’s forward ball was blocked inside the 6 yard box by the busy Cammell Laird custodian.

A frustrated Steve Davis commented: - “Overall, I felt we dominated play and created lot’s of opportunities but on the day a combination of poor passes – lack of a cutting edge in attack during crucial periods, combined with a degree of bad luck, served to deny us the chance to climb into the top six and beat Cammell Laird for the first time in the league. However, we have just entered the second half of the season and with key players on the way back from injury we should be that much stronger in the coming weeks”.

Match report written by Phil Johnson