FC United of Manchester 0
Nantwich Town 0
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER 0, NANTWICH TOWN 0
UniBond League Premier Division, Monday 13th April 2009.

Nantwich returned from a sun bathed Gigg Lane with a useful point from an enthralling Easter encounter with FC. It was just reward for a hard working display against the league’s form side and keeps the Dabbers in the play off zone with games in hand.
Despite the lack of goals, the all action clash was a super advert for UniBond football. Nantwich shaded a hustle and bustle first half but the Rebels cranked up the ante after the break and despite them putting the visitors under late pressure, the Dabbers’ resolute defence held firm for a share of the spoils.
In fact, early on, Nantwich looked the more threatening of the two sides. Former Crewe Alex ace Rodney Jack led FC right back Adam Carden a merry dance with his pace and trickery and was a constant threat in the first period. He also unleashed a sizzling drive that rasped over the bar as the Rebels sought to douse his firepower. Nantwich’s best chances, though, fell to Dave Walker who was slipped clear inside the box by Michael Lennon just after the half hour. Rebels’ keeper Sam Ashton needed to spead himself well to block Walker’s shot. Ten minutes later, Walker muscled in to get a toe end on a long clearance, looping the ball over Ashton only to see it bounce agonisingly wide of the target.
Having been restricted to mainly long range efforts in the first half, FC came out all guns blazing after the break. Nicky Platt cleverly carved out a chance for Simon Carden who forced a quality save from Lee Jones. A minute later, there was a let off for the Dabbers when Platt’s curling shot bounced back off the underside of the bar with Jones stranded. Adam Tong narrowly headed over his own bar from Lennon’s cross as Nantwich threatened to counter - but it was the home side who gradually gained the upper hand. Phil Marsh clipped the ball just wide of the target from the edge of the area and Nantwich survived a major scare when Simon Carden’s corner pinged between a handful of players just yards from goal before being scrambled clear.
For the visitors, substitute Andy Kinsey almost netted with his first touch but his header from Dave Tickle’s corner was booted off the line. Referee Jason Whiteley then waved away two shouts for penalties as firstly FC appealed the ball had hit Darren Tinson’s arm inside the box and again when Tickle tangled with Marsh on the six yard line. But Nantwich’s hard working defence thwarted FC’s late surge and, when fortune was needed, the underside of the bar came to the rescue for a second time with Jamie Baguley’s free-kick deflected on to it with just minutes remaining.
Overall, it was a professional display from the Dabbers. Certainly in the first period they had the chances to inflict a first home defeat in two months on the Rebels and they will take confidence from the performance into Wednesday’s home clash with high-flying Ilkeston Town.
FC United: Ashton, A.Carden, Garner, Platt, Tong, Nugent, Roca, S.Carden, Marsh, Wright, Moses. Subs: Neville (for S.Carden, 83), Williams, Baguley (for Roca, 79), Dieyte, Chadwick (for Moses, 67). Booked: Neville (90)
Nantwich: Jones, Beeston, Tickle, Tinson, O’Loughlin, Blackhurst, Carter, MacPherson, Walker, Lennon, Jack. Subs: Parkinson (for Blackhurst,79), Whittaker, Hawthorne, Gibson (for Jack, 83), Kinsey (for Walker, 70). Booked: MacPherson (26), Walker (41), Parkinson (88). Attendance: 2840

Match report written by Michael Chatwin