Boston United 0
Nantwich Town 5
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Saturday 3rd January.2009.

BOSTON UNITED 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 5
Ashley Carter.66.
Michael Lennon.82.87.90.
Dave Walker. 90+1.

Boston: Margarson. Mathews (Beeson 68). Farrell. L.Parker. Bloomer. Clarke. Milson. W.Parker. Froggatt. Ryan. Melton. Substitutes: Talbot. Beeson. Nuttell. Ashton. Griffiths.

Nantwich: Jones. Jarrett. Kiss (Francis 60). Smith. Tinson. Parkinson ©. Carter (Walker 82). Westwood. Gibson (Mahmoud 88) . Whittaker. Lennon. Substitutes: Walker. Jack. Francis. Mahmoud. Roberts g/k.

Referee: Mr C.Ward Attendance: 962
MATCH REPORT

Following the disappointment of the New Year’s Day home defeat at the hands of Cammell Laird ‘The Dabbers’ were seeking a return to winning ways during their first visit to the York Street Stadium. Meanwhile, on loan Crewe Alexandra defender Ashley Westwood was making his final appearance following his recall to Gresty Road whilst the injury hoodoo struck yet again when defender Mark Beeston was ruled out with a recurring groin injury and were then forced to plan without winger Danny Griggs who didn’t travel leaving head coach Steve Davis with a selection problem given that key members of the squad have yet to return from injury.

Nantwich began brightly on the large, wide pitch of the York Street Stadium and to their credit held the majority of play during the opening quarter hour. Winger Ashley Carter’s close range effort brought a good save out of Margarson whilst a Dave Whittaker header from a well flighted Ashley Westwood corner inched over the bar from five yards out followed by Michael Lennon, who was unfortunate to witness his powerful shot on goal deflected for a corner. Meanwhile, Ollie Ryan and David Farrell linked on the Nantwich left before bringing winger Adam Millson into play who was then denied a run on goal thanks to a well timed tackle from Richard Smith. At the other end, Ashley Westwood’s fiercely struck shot from 20 yards was heading toward target but at the last second deflected wide off Millson before Margarson was tested by ‘Dabbers’ captain Phil Parkinson with a rasping drive from similar distance. For the home side, Ryan and Farrell combined to set up Steve Melton whose firmly struck effort from 25 yards deflected off Westwood and then Farrell’s cross from deep aimed for Ryan at the back post cut out, thanks’ to Damion Jarrett’s stunning clearance from a header. Nantwich custodian Lee Jones then denied Boston’s leading scorer Ryan who had positioned himself well before meeting Farrell’s left sided centre.

On the half hour, ‘Dabbers’ right back Damion Jarrett progressed to the bye line before cutting the ball back and squaring it across the 6 yard box but despite the presence of Lennon, Whittaker, and Carter they missed chances to tuck the ball past Margarson and his under pressure defence. Nantwich then had to sustain their own spell of pressure with the defence having to deal with shots from Ryan and Froggatt but were soon on the attack again and it was a great move by Lennon when he first wriggled past Parker and Bloomer and then took on Marginson who had left his area, however, the Boston custodian spread himself just far enough to cut out the shot from the Nantwich striker.

Half time: Boston United 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 0

On 47 minutes, Nantwich midfielder Robin Gibson was only just off target with an effort before following up with a shot that crept inches over the bar. Meanwhile, Ollie Ryan’s 65th minute free kick failed to beat the wall – the ball then cleared to Lennon who was denied by the outstretched Margarson but who could only parry into the path of the well placed Carter who followed up from inside the 6 yard box to put Nantwich into a well deserved lead. On the hour, former Coventry City defender Liam Francis replaced Gyorgy Kiss at left back and although Boston continued to press, they were unable to find a chink in ‘The Dabbers’ armour. Boston’s attempts at using the full width of their big pitch to negotiate a path around the rear of the Nantwich defence, was further frustrated when Francis produced a quality block on Jon Froggatt’s angled drive. Then, with the clock edging towards normal time, Nantwich went on a goal stampede, scoring four in the space of nine minutes during which, Michael Lennon scored a hat-trick with goals in the 82nd, 87th and 90th minute before substitute Dave Walker completed the rout a minute into added time. At the finish, a gathering of Boston supporters stood and barracked the home side before moving away to greet the Nantwich players with applause on their return to the dressing room!

And, in a no surprise after match summary Nantwich head coach Steve Davis said: - “Well, we have certainly left our mark on our first visit to Boston and they won’t want us returning here in a hurry. In all honesty, after going a goal up, I felt that after the way we were playing we might just nick it with Ashley’s (Carter) goal because the pattern of the game up until then had been repeated so often this season, where we create loads of chances but don’t finish them off. But for a welcome change, most of what we created, albeit late on, went right for us. To be fair to the lads, after the disappointment of New Years Day they gave their all today with some quality football and more than deserved the result”.

The win moves Nantwich up five places to sixth leaving them just two points off third place. With no premier division games scheduled during the coming week ‘The Dabbers’ will retain their current position ahead of next weekend’s visit of 7th placed North Ferriby United in which both sides will start on equal 38 points but with Nantwich having the advantage of two games in hand over their visitors.

Match report written by Phil Johnson