Nantwich Town 4
FC Halifax Town  1
FA Cup (2nd Round Qualifying)

Match Report

FA CUP 2nd QUALIFYING ROUND

Saturday 27th September.2008.

NANTWICH TOWN 4 v FC HALIFAX TOWN 1
Alan Naggington. 16 Peter Moore. 10.
Glyn Blackhurst.57.
Dave Walker.68 (pen). 85.

NANTWICH TOWN: Jones. Taylor (Smith 45). Tickle. Tinson. O’Loughlin. Parkinson. Beasley. Blackhurst. Walker. Lennon (Shotton 73). Naggington (Griggs 78). Substitutes: Shotton. Carter. Gibson. Smith. Griggs. Arestidou g/k. Hawthorne.

FC HALIFAX TOWN: Kennedy. Coo. King (Phelan 64). Payne. Barras ©. Adams. Smith. Walker (Ellis 64). Stott. Gedman (Jemson 37). Moore. Substitutes: Senior. Craig Smith. Phelan. Ellis. Morning. Davidson. Jemson.


Referee:Mr R.P Newman Attendance: 1,019


MATCH REPORT

Nantwich were boosted by the return from injury of goal keeper Lee Jones, meanwhile winger Peter Heler was forced to sit out a one match suspension whilst newly signed right back Damion Jarrett was ineligible having played in an earlier FA Cup tie for Bromsgrove Rovers. Visitors FC Halifax Town arrived full of confidence after scoring twelve goals in their previous couple of games and were buoyed by a following of around two hundred supporters.

And it was the visitors who were first in action – winger Peter Moore firing a low shot that tested Lee Jones as early as the 2nd minute after striker Paul Gedman had put him through from just outside the area. At the other end, Nantwich won a 3rd minute free kick that was delivered by left back Dave Tickle to Charlie O’Loughlin, the defender’s header held by visiting ‘keeper Jon Kennedy 8 yards out before Kennedy was again called into action – first when midfielder Glyn Blackhurst tested him with a strike from the edge of the area followed by ‘Dabbers’ captain Phil Parkinson who volleyed from 22 yards out that Kennedy did well to hold.

But, despite those early Nantwich opportunities it was the visitors who began to look the more threatening with FC Halifax spreading the ball around with almost consummate ease at times. Then, in the 10th minute and with Nantwich in retreat, the visitors took the lead through Moore. In the build up Gedman worked space out on the Nantwich right before playing in the unmarked Moore who took advantage of some yawning space to fire under the diving Jones at the foot of the left hand post. A minute later Nantwich ‘Man of the Match’ defender Darren Tinson performed well to deny striker Ashley Stott at 12 yards out before former Crewe Alex player Cavell Coo was allowed to progress with a mazy run down the home left before narrowly clipping his shot wide of the far post. However, despite that early set back Nantwich were not about to play second best and gradually rested the game from their visitors before going on to equalize in the 16th minute with a finely executed goal from Alan Naggington. During the build up Parkinson split the visitors defence with a well judged forward ball from just inside the opposition half followed by some slick passing that ripped apart the FC Halifax defence allowing Naggington to fire across Kennedy into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

And it was the lively Naggington who went close again a couple of minutes later when Michael Lennon clipped a forward ball into the path of Dave Walker – Walker then laying off on the edge of the 6 yard box to Naggington who was unfortunate to see his powerful strike held on the line. Further pressure from the ‘Dabbers’ witnessed visitors captain Tony Barras concede a 20th minute corner and after some desperate defending in and around the visitors 6 yard box Nantwich won a second flag kick that left midfielder Adam Beasley to go close with a fiercely driven shot that flashed across the face of goal from the left hand side. Michael Lennon came off best in a tussle with defender Lincoln Adams that eventually left Adams with a caution and Nantwich with a free kick that failed to test the visitors but at the same time gave notice that the home side were unrelenting in their pressure.

Eight minutes from half time and Parkinson was unlucky not to reach Lennon’s cross field ball as once again Nantwich pressed forward but after a 41st minute change for FC Halifax that saw Nigel Jemson replace Gedman in attack it was the Nantwich captain who tracked back to defend, albeit at the expense of a late corner that left Jones punching clear inside his 6 yard area from midfielder Jonny Smith followed shortly after by a close range header from central defender Steve Payne that drifted wide of a post. Meanwhile, Nantwich lost right back Andy Taylor to injury after a bye line tussle with Jemsom witnessed Jemson stamp on Taylor leaving the defender to take no further part in the tie and Jemson, rather surprisingly escape a booking.

Half time: NANTWICH TOWN 1 v FC HALIFAX TOWN 1.

Richard Smith replaced the injured Taylor from the start of the second half and from the whistle Nantwich gradually restored command. Tickle was unlucky with a shot that forced Kennedy to initially spill the ball before recovering at the foot of his right hand post followed by good work in midfield from the tenacious Beasley whose pass allowed Parkinson to bring the lively Naggington into play that resulted in a corner for the home side. And from the corner Nantwich deservedly took the lead. Dave Tickle was the provider of a superb in swinging left foot flag kick before Blackhurst peeled off to meet the ball and deliver a bullet header over Kennedy in to the roof of the net from the edge of the 6 yard area. A minute before the hour Tickle was desperately unlucky with a shot direct from a corner that skimmed the angle of far post and bar but despite making further changes in an attempt to stem the continuous advances from their hosts FC Halifax went further behind in the 68th minute after Adams fouled Lennon in the box - Dave Walker calmly slotting the resultant penalty away to leave the visitors with a considerable task particularly as Nantwich looked a side that were in no mood to yield.

Walker was then unfortunate with an attempt to clip a long ball from Jones over Kennedy, the busy FC Halifax custodian just managing to hold at the foot of his left hand post before Naggington, with open goal in front of him, inexplicably struck wide of the right hand post with the FC Halifax defence in complete disarray. Liam Shotton replaced the busy Lennon in the 73rd minute; meanwhile Nantwich continued to produce a sparkling display of football in front of the 1,000 plus crowd sweeping FC Halifax aside with almost every move. Naggington left the pitch to resounding applause in the 78th minute - Danny Griggs replacing the ‘Dabbers’ No.11 over on the left side. The frustrated Jemson was cautioned for poor conduct in the 79th minute ahead of a great effort from Shotton who went close at the left hand post after the young ‘Dabbers’ striker had forced his way past Payne. However, Walker’s 85th minute goal deservedly sealed the tie when he advanced into the area before drawing Kennedy and lifting his shot over the FC Halifax custodian in to the middle of the back of the net. Three minutes of added time were allowed in which Griggs 25 yard screamer brought a desperate save out of the very busy Kennedy whilst his opposite number Jones enjoyed a relatively quite afternoon which saw Nantwich progress to the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup before leaving the pitch to rapturous applause.

Nantwich head coach Steve Davis, beaming with delight, said: “Highly delighted. The performance from the lads was almost faultless. We played some sparkling football this afternoon and were different class. It took us a short time to adjust and for the opening ten minutes or so Halifax were the better side but, once we had adjusted, our 4 – 3 – 3 system worked almost to perfection. Our discipline was excellent and we kept our shape throughout, which was a good thing because sometimes that can be our downfall. Their manager Jimmy Vince was complimentary; he said the best side won by far with some outstanding play at times”.

Rodney Densen Wines Man of the Match: Darren Tinson. Nantwich Town.

Match report written by Phil Johnson