Leigh Genesis 0
Nantwich Town 8
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

LEIGH GENESIS 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 8
Michael Lennon. 3. 41 (P)
Dave Walker. 61. 85 (P)
Charlie O’Loughlin. 21.
Dave Macpherson. 23.
Robin Gibson. 57.
Andy Kinsey. 90.

Played@ Radcliffe Borough (TheInn2Gether) Stadium, Stainton Park, Radcliffe, Greater Manchester.

Nantwich: Roberts. Smith. Tickle. Tinson. O’Loughlin. Parkinson (Hawthorne 65). Carter. Macpherson. Walker. Lennon (Kinsey 65). Gibson (Jack 62). Substitutes: Whittaker. Griggs. Hawthorne. Kinsey. Jack.

Referee: Mr P. Banks. Attendance: 101


MATCH REPORT

Nantwich were in devastating form last evening when they annihilated relegation threatened Leigh Genesis with an eight goal salvo without reply. Meanwhile, Nantwich were without regular goalkeeper Lee Jones (knee), midfielder Glyn Blackhurst (knee) and defender Mark Beeston (arm) but were boosted by the return of midfielder Dave Macpherson from suspension.

‘The Dabbers’ took control of the match right from the start – and never let up until the final whistle. Michael Lennon opened the scoring in the 3rd minute after taking advantage of a ball over the top and whilst the Leigh defence remained static Lennon calmly ran on before rounding goalkeeper Dean Porter from an angle and tucking the ball in at the near post. Chances flowed but it took another 18 minutes before the second goal arrived – courtesy of former Port Vale defender Charlie O’Loughlin who climbed the highest in a crowded 6 yard box to head home Robin Gibson’s corner. Two minutes later it was 3 – 0 to ‘The Dabbers’. In the build up Nantwich broke from midfield and after the ball was played into the 6 yard box it was returned into the path of the sharp eyed Dave Macpherson who spotted Porter off his line – Macpherson calmly lofting the ball over the hapless Leigh custodian and into the back of the net.

However, despite unrelenting pressure from Nantwich – all credit to Leigh who continued to fight for possession of the ball – but in truth it was an effort all in vain. Such was the movement of the visitors that the home side were left chasing shadows, a situation that continued for the majority of the game. Meanwhile, a heavy challenge in the 6yard box on O’Loughlin by defender Alex Cunliffe resulted in the Leigh captain receiving his marching orders in the 41st minute whilst Lennon gave Porter no chance with the resultant penalty to score his 26th goal of the season.

HT: LEIGH GENESIS 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 4.

The second half just simply carried on as the first – and with it another 4 goals for ‘The Dabbers’.

On 57 minutes ‘Dabbers’ captain Phil Parkinson switched a midfield ball into the path of fellow midfielder Robin Gibson whose power and pace took him past two challenges before firing a shot from outside the box that dipped under the diving Porter and into the back of the net. Four minutes later Dave Walker latched on to the end of a Robin Gibson corner to place a glancing header under the diving body of the Leigh custodian to make it 6 – 0 before scoring a 2nd goal from the penalty spot after ‘Dabbers’ left back Dave Tickle had been brought down in the box by Leigh midfielder Rob Farrington and to complete the rout, right on the stroke of normal time, was Andy Kinsey. Kinsey, who, in only his second appearance for Nantwich since returning from Newcastle Town, made space just inside the area before calmly placing a downward glancing header past an overworked Porter into the right hand corner of the net whilst his opposite number Danny Roberts might well have brought a chair to sit on – he had just one shot to save all through the game and that took until the 71st minute when Farrington presented him with an effort from outside the box and even that failed to trouble him.

Historical Note: The result represents the largest winning margin by Nantwich for over 40 years. Ironically, it came on the very ground that last night’s result was achieved when Nantwich beat Radcliffe Borough 9 – 0 in the Manchester League, 1967 / 68.

Nantwich Town head coach Steve Davis had just one word of comment to offer following this emphatic result: - “Speechless.”

Match report written by Phil Johnson