Whitley Bay 1
Nantwich Town 5
FA Cup (3rd Round Qualifying)

Match Report

FA CUP.3rd Qualifying Round

Saturday 11th October.2008

Whitley Bay (Northern League) 1 v NANTWICH TOWN 5
Chow.58 Lennon. 12. 63. 65. 78.
Griggs. 87.

Whitley Bay: Burke. Taylor. Picton (Chow) 52). Livermore (McFarlane 52). Cawson ©. Ryan. Moore. Robson. Kerr. Woodhouse. Robinson. Substitutes: Chow. Minto. McFarlane. Smith. Reay McMullen. Chandler.


NANTWICH TOWN: Jones. Smith. Tickle. Tinson. O’Loughlin. Parkinson. Heler (Carter 83). Blackhurst. Shotton (Walker 60). Lennon (Whittaker 79). Griggs. Substitutes: Walker. Naggington. Carter. Hawthorne. Beasley. Whittaker. Arestidou g/k.

Attendance: 797.


MATCH REPORT

On a fine afternoon and In front of Tyne Tees television cameras, the home side were out of the blocks early in an attempt to repeat their previous round experience when they shocked Hyde United by taking a two goal lead in the opening twenty minutes. A demonstration of the home side’s intent came when three early crosses entered ‘The Dabbers’ six yard box – two went begging with no home player on hand to take advantage whilst a third fell to ‘Seasiders’ defender Ryan whose under pressure shot drifted over the bar.

But, it was Nantwich who deservedly took the lead courtesy of a 12th minute goal by Michael Lennon. In the build up, Glyn Blackhurst won the ball in midfield before picking out Peter Heler whose quick response allowed him to glide the ball into the path of Lennon whose clinical finish from 12 yards left Burke with little chance to produce a save. Whitley Bay responded with a couple of moves – one of which resulted in a free kick but the delivery was poor – the ball going directly into the defensive wall. Meanwhile, at the other end, Nantwich secured their first corner of the half that saw Blackhurst stretch for a Danny Griggs flag kick but the close range header fell narrowly wide of the target.

On 25 minutes Griggs cut inside his marker from just outside the area before shooting narrowly wide of the target meanwhile, ‘The Seasiders’ winger Robinson delivered a free kick into the path of defender Ryan who responded by heading over the bar from close range. Just after the half hour the home side again threatened through Robinson who turned ‘Dabbers’ captain Phil Parkinson before unleashing a shot from outside the area that goalkeeper Lee Jones did well to tip over the bar for a corner. For Nantwich, Liam Shotton won the ball before teeing up Parkinson who followed up by picking out Lennon – Lennon’s close range shot drifting narrowly wide of the target whilst in a further Nantwich move, Richard Smith came from deep to float a neat cross field ball into the path of Griggs but when the Nantwich winger stooped to place his header from inside the six yard box he directed it straight into the arms of Burke. Seven minutes before the break ‘The Seasiders’ threatened through Livermore who broke free to fire goal wards but his shot drifted wide whilst the home side’s strike partnership of Kerr and Woodhouse had largely proved ineffective. Overall, Nantwich more than deserved their half time lead but could have had no idea what was to transpire in the second half.

After the break, both sides produced a series of attacking moves but it was Whitley Bay who capitalised on a Richard Smith defensive error to equalize in the 58th minute. The goal, a rather fortunate one, came after ‘The Seasiders’ lofted a ball over the top that Smith intended to head back to his ‘keeper but unfortunately missed the connection allowing substitute Chow to nip in and fire past Jones. On the hour, Nantwich sent on Walker to replace Shotton in attack and within three minutes of Walkers introduction Lennon put Nantwich ahead again when he cut in from the right to provide a clinical finish from a tight angle. And it was substitute Walker who was then instrumental in setting up Lennon for his hat-trick. Walker collected the ball in his own half and using his pace to throw attention from his markers aside picked out the well placed Lennon whose calm approach allowed him to side foot the ball past Burke into the corner of the net from close range. The home side’s response was to introduce a couple of changes in an attempt to at least force a draw but, the odds of reducing the deficit were lengthened in the 78th minute when Whitley Bay pushed forward and, with minimal cover at the back, Lennon, who has endured a barren spell of late, required no invitation to take advantage of the absence of cover to notch his 4th goal of the tie. Moments later, Nantwich hero Lennon departed to rapturous applause from the large contingent of travelling fans ahead of his replacement Dave Whittaker – Whittaker’s first competitive outing since a closed season injury denied him a place in the squad – that was, until today’s emphatic victory on Tyneside.

But, Nantwich weren’t finished – three minutes from normal time Danny Griggs, in his first full game of the season, scored his first goal of the season, when he finished with aplomb into the far bottom corner of the net to send Nantwich through to the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1904.

Steve Davis was in ecstatic mood after this most convincing FA Cup victory saying: “A fine performance from the lads. We prepared well – had them watched whilst they watched us at Eastwood last weekend and maybe fancied their chances, but on the day, found us a different outfit. We sustained early pressure, which wasn’t unexpected but ‘Lenny’s’ goal gave us confidence to press ahead. But, despite them (Whitley Bay) scoring an equalizer and putting us under a spell of pressure we came out of it to edge back in front . After that, and in particular after ‘Lenny’s’ third goal, it was virtually over as a contest. Great result, convincing performance and just that little bit closer to the first round proper”.

Match report written by Phil Johnson