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

Match Report

Saturday 25th April.2009


NANTWICH TOWN 3 v WORKSOP TOWN 1
Dave Walker. 15(P). 34 Chris Adam.23
Michael Lennon. 90+2

Nantwich: Jones. Beeston. Tickle. Tinson. O’Loughlin. Macpherson. Carter. Blackhurst (Parkinson 73). Walker (Kinsey 76). Lennon©. Jack (Griggs 84). Substitutes: Parkinson. Whittaker. Hawthorne. Griggs. Kinsey.

Worksop: Ogden. Glarvey. Davies©. Holmes (Stansfield 76). Jones. Lowe. Glass. Callery. White (Tomlinson 46). Sanasy (Townsend 77). Adam. Substitutes: Townsend. Tomlinson. Galloway. Stansfield. Boyce.

Referee: Mr D.Meeson.
Attendance: 794.

MATCH REPORT

Nantwich completed the double over Worksop and booked themselves a place in the semi final promotion play-offs for the second season in succession. A Dave Walker brace backed up by an added time goal from leading scorer Michael Lennon was sufficient to wipe out Chris Adam’s goal for the ‘Tigers’ and give ‘The Dabbers’ a home tie in Tuesday’s UniBond Premier Division semi final play off against Guiseley.

Nantwich were out of the blocks from the start and as early as the 2nd minute a great ball from Rodney Jack to the feet of Ashley Carter caused momentary panic in the Worksop 6 yard box when Carter’s angled cross beat Worksop ‘keeper Ogden but just as the ball looked to be reaching unmarked Michael Lennon at the far post a Worksop defender deflected it from Lennon’s path to safety. Meanwhile, at the other end a Worksop break down the Nantwich left spelled danger when midfielder Matt Glass sent in a cross intended for the unmarked Andy White at the far post but fortunately for Nantwich the ball landed on the top of the net.

On 5 minutes, Rodney Jack made a promising break from midfield but just as the former Crewe striker struck from outside the box the ball bobbled in front of him causing the ball to bend away from the target as he shot. For ‘The Tigers,’ Glass was again a threat when he worked space from just outside the Nantwich area before sending in a dipping shot that fell less than a yard wide of the left hand post.

Nantwich were awarded a penalty in the 15th minute when former Crewe striker Andy White inflicted a heavy challenge on Charlie O’Loughlin 12 yards from goal – Dave Walker clinically dispatching the spot kick to give Nantwich a lead they had been threatening from the start. However, the visitors went close to drawing level in the 20th minute after Lennon had initially been muscled off the ball in midfield – White picking out fellow striker Kevin Sanasy whose first time shot fell menacingly close to the left hand post. But Worksop made no mistake three minutes later when Nantwich again lost possession in midfield and when Glass picked out White at the left hand post and despite ‘Dabbers’ goal keeper Jones brave effort to dive across the ball ‘Tigers’ winger Chris Adam was on hand to drive the ball into the roof of the net and level the score. Despite the setback Nantwich sought to restore their earlier lead and could easily have done so in the 27th minute had Walker not dragged his shot wide of the left hand post with Ogden beaten. Just after the half hour Nantwich again lost out in the midfield area – White working space down the centre to send in a 25 yard shot forcing Jones down on his line to complete the save.

With the danger passed Nantwich turned the flow back into the Worksop half - the momentum pressing the visitors firmly on the back foot and were caught flat footed in the 34th minute when both Lennon and Walker combined on the Worksop right hand side – Walker getting the final touch to nudge the ball over the line after Lennon had driven a low shot across the face of goal with ‘The Tigers’ defence in disarray. Nantwich had a further opportunity to stretch their lead close to half time when Lennon’s dangerous cross dropped in the 6 yard box to start an almighty scramble that somehow Worksop managed to escape from conceding for the third time in the first period. Seven minutes from the break Ogden pulled of a magnificent save from Lennon, albeit at the expense of a corner but as the teams went in at the break Nantwich had to settle for a 2 – 1 lead despite dominating the opening period.

Worksop introduced Ben Tomlinson White at the start of the second half – Tomlinson immediately creating problems down the Nantwich right hand side in which he twice tested Jones with shots from outside the area. And as the second period wore on Nantwich began to adopt a nervous look and on too many occasions for comfort had to rely on the central defensive partnership of Darren Tinson and O’Loughlin to relieve ‘The Dabbers’ of potential trouble. Both sides rang changes throughout the half but Nantwich revived in the closing minutes and Carter was unlucky to place a close range header into the side netting after good build up play involving Andy Kinsey and Lennon. However, Lennon, captain for the day, was not to be outdone and in the 2nd minute of added time did exceptionally well to drive the ball into the back of the net from the tightest of angles to not only seal the win, but provide him with his 32nd goal of the season.

Steve Davis commented: “We dominated the first half and with better finishing plus a slice of luck here and there, could have doubled our lead. However, nerves looked to take over for a time and we looked vulnerable but credit to the lads they grafted away and in the end I thought we deserved the win”.

Note: Tuesday 28th April. 7.45pm. UniBond League Premier Division Semi Final promotion play off’s.

NANTWICH TOWN v GUISELEY

ILKESTON TOWN v KENDAL TOWN

Final: Saturday 2nd May.3.00pm

Match report written by Phil Johnson