Nantwich Town 1
Hednesford Town 3
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Tuesday 7th April. 2009


NANTWICH TOWN 1 v HEDNESFORD TOWN 3
Tom Marshall o/g. 84 Tyrone Barnett.18
Ross Dyer.56
Elliott Durrell.87

Nantwich: Jones. Beeston. Tickle. Tinson ©. O’Loughlin. Blackhurst. Carter (Griggs 76). MacPherson. Walker (Whittaker 65). Lennon. Jack (Parkinson 65). Substitutes: Parkinson. Whittaker. Griggs. Hawthorne. Kinsey.

Hednesford: Brock. Maguire. Quistin. Gomes. Abraham. Marshall. Hall. Durrell. Barnett (West 90). Dyer. Draper ©. Substitutes: West. Coulston. Bailey. Gill. Woolley.

Referee: Mr P.Graham.
Attendance: 490.

Nantwich went down to their second home defeat in the space of four day’s – again to another of their promotion play off rivals whilst on this occasion it was Hednesford Town who recorded their third successive victory over ‘The Dabbers’ this season. Meanwhile, Nantwich fielded a changed line up from the one that lost to Guiseley at the weekend – midfielder Glyn Blackhurst (ankle) making a surprise return but managing to complete a full game whilst Rodney Jack was also a surprise starter - completing 65 minutes before tiring.

Hednesford went straight on the attack with midfielder Elliott Durrell volleying from just outside the area with a fierce shot that fortunately took a deflection on its way towards goal in the first minute. But Nantwich looked in no mood to allow Hednesford to dictate and in the 6th minute a great run down the Hednesford left by Rodney Jack took him to the bye line from where the former Crewe player delivered a terrific ball to the far post – leading scorer Michael Lennon then disappointing with a close range shot that he sliced wide from 8 yards out. At the other end ‘Dabbers’ defender Charlie O’Loughlin put in a timely tackle to deny lively Hednesford striker Ross Draper before the game switched ends and again it was Jack who was looking menacing down the left from where he again cut the ball back from the bye line this time for Dave Walker who rose at the far post before heading over the angle of post and bar.

But despite those early chances Nantwich were having to work hard to contain their visitors who were on the front foot for much of the time. In the 11th minute, Hednesford captain Draper embarrassed when he failed to tap the ball into an unguarded net after Durrell had put him through on the left whilst at the other end Nantwich winger Ashley Carter disappointed when he lofted his shot from inside the area over the bar after being put through by Walker. Draper then tested Nantwich custodian Lee Jones with a crisp shot from just inside the area with Hednesford pressure then converting into a goal when from a corner on the Nantwich right Tyrone Barnett rose to squeeze the ball between Glyn Blackhurst and O’Loughlin with a downward header from less than a yard out.

Hednesford continued to press and the pace of Draper took him past Nantwich left back Dave Tickle before firing from an angle with a shot that went between defence and ‘keeper but which fortunately fizzed a yard wide of the far post. At the other end the lively Jack produced yet another of his great crosses this time to be met by Blackhurst at the far post from which Nantwich secured a corner. But Hednesford were in no mood either to let their hosts take command and were repelling virtually everything that Nantwich offered. On 37 minutes Jack was unlucky with yet another of his deep crosses – on this occasion reaching the far post but as the ball dipped it struck a visiting defender with Lennon lurking a mere yard away.

Half time: NANTWICH TOWN 0 v HEDNESFORD TOWN 1

As far as Nantwich were concerned the second half was largely a non event. Energy levels appeared low, in complete contrast to their opponents, who were full of running and purpose whilst ‘The Dabbers’ appeared nervous for the most part, often making glaring errors that was eventually to cost them the match. But Nantwich did carve out an opening in the 54th minute when O’Loughlin went up for a corner but despite an on target header Hednesford custodian Stuart Brock had no difficulty in making the save. Two minutes later, ‘The Pitmen’ went further ahead when from a ball down the Nantwich right hand side Draper ignored a couple of challenges to squeeze the ball in at the far post despite Jones desperately trying to cover the gap at his left hand post.

An 84th minute own goal by Hednesford midfielder Tom Marshall provided Nantwich with a somewhat fortuitous lifeline but in reality ‘The Dabbers’ were second best throughout the majority of the second half.

Durrell was presented with a comfortable opportunity to add a third three minutes from normal time – and he did. In acres of space just off the left hand edge of the Nantwich area the industrious midfielder looked up before picking his spot and firing under Jones at the near post – Jones looking to have moved a shade late for the shot for which he was well sighted at the time.

Head coach Steve Davis commented: - “Because of where we are in the league, fear has suddenly crept into our game whilst fluency has gone out of it. I thought we were slightly the better side in the first half but in the second period we were again poor. In comparison with them (Hednesford) we looked sapped of energy and just like the Guiseley match our passing was way below standard. After going on such a fantastic unbeaten run (22 games) we now find ourselves having to regroup and this couldn’t have happened at a worse time”.

Despite back to back defeats Nantwich retain third in the table but have no match this weekend before Easter Monday’s potentially tough away encounter with promotion contenders FC United at Gigg Lane (3pm). Two day’s later (Wednesday 15th April) Nantwich return to the Weaver Stadium where they face yet another promotion contender in 2nd placed Ilkeston Town (7.45pm).

Match report written by Phil Johnson