Frickley Athletic 0
Nantwich Town 2
FA Trophy (1st Round Qualifying)

Match Report

Saturday 18th October.2008.

Frickley Athletic 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 2
Danny Griggs. 7
Dave Whittaker.85

Frickley Athletic. Nicklin. Davies. Gowen. Walsh. Heath. Jones. Hilton ©. Groome. Morris (Wilburn 61). Pell. White. Substitutes: Robinson. Brough. Wilburn. Pierpoint. Vickers.

NANTWICH TOWN: Jones. Smith. Tickle. Tinson ©. O’Loughlin. Carter. (Jarrett 87) Beeston. Blackhurst. Griggs. Walker (Naggington 70). Lennon (Whittaker 70). Substitutes: Shotton. Parkinson. Naggington. Jarrett. Whittaker.

Attendance: 187.

Making their first visit to the South Elmsall Stadium Nantwich sustained early pressure from the home side before taking a 7th minute lead through winger Danny Griggs. The build up to the goal allowed Ashley Carter to weave his way toward the edge of the 6 yard box before crossing into the path of Griggs who struck a first time volley across goal keeper Adam Nicklin into the far corner of the net. Dave Walker went close with an intended chip over the ‘keeper but was denied when Nicklin just managed to claw the rising ball out of the air. In a further Nantwich move that ended with a corner, Dave Tickle got on to the end of a clearance with a shot from close range but the Nantwich left back’s snap shot agonizingly crept over the bar. Meanwhile, Frickley’s first effort of note came around the quarter hour mark when striker Robert Pell got in with a close range header that fortunately struck Nantwich ‘keeper Lee Jones on the knee to safety whilst five minutes later, the home side were unlucky not to level when Chris White’s corner was met by the head of Jonathan Groome – the ball coming back off a post, much to the relief of ‘The Dabbers’. For Nantwich, the first time centre midfield pairing of Mark Beeston and Glyn Blackhurst settled fairly quickly, a bonus in consideration it was Beeston’s first start of the season coming on the back of a second half substitute appearance in last Monday’s win over Ashton United.

But, as the half wore on the game became a somewhat tetchy affair, in particular with Nantwich having to deal with a physical and direct home side whilst at the same time having to endure a continuous barrage of verbal abuse from amongst the home supporters. Five minutes before the break Ashley Carter made a run that carried him into the box only to be upended by a home defender. Despite appeals from Nantwich players the referee denied them a penalty and then followed by denying Dave Walker for an alleged offside after Michael Lennon initially pulled the ball back from the bye line before directing into the path of Walker whose clinically despatched header flew past Nicklin into the back of the net.

In windy conditions, the pattern of the second half continued in similar vein with the tie regularly switching ends, however, it was Nantwich who looked the better of the two sides and in a promising 52nd minute move ‘Dabbers’ central defender Charlie O’Loughlin came up to join the attack before stooping to place a close range header narrowly wide of the target. At the other end, a deep cross from White found Chris Hilton on the opposite flank with Nantwich having to react quickly before clearing almost off the line. From the clearance, Carter latched on to the ball before directing into the path of Griggs but Nicklin covered well and gathered the low shot from just inside the area. With a quarter hour of normal time remaining Nantwich introduced Naggington and Whittaker for Lennon and Walker respectively and within minutes Naggington made a run that took him close to the target but despite getting in with a shot, the goal keeper held. But Nantwich were not to be denied a second goal. In the 85th minute good work by Tickle out of defence took the ball forward bringing Griggs into play. Griggs, carrying the ball further, laid off into the path of well placed substitute striker Dave Whittaker who chested down before striking on the turn to score his first goal for his club. On 87 minutes Nantwich replaced the hard working Carter with recent signing Damion Jarrett before Naggington made a further penetrating run that was interrupted only after Nicklin came way off his line. In truth, apart from three dangerous moments Nantwich dealt comfortably with anything the home side could muster with their well deserved victory taking ‘The Dabbers’ through to the second qualifying round draw – one step further than last season when they disappointingly bowed out to Wakefield FC in a first qualifying round replay at The Weaver Stadium.

Steve Davis, a very happy man after back to back cup victories, sandwiched in between with a league win, said: “A well deserved victory that was created out of a complete team performance. We were under no illusions before we set out for their place and were more than prepared for a physical battle against a very direct side whilst at the same time having to endure hostility from the other side the barrier, almost every time we touched the ball. Quite simply, it wasn’t a pretty match, but we competed for the first ball every time leaving Frickley with very little to create anything. A great, battling result”.

Match report written by Phil Johnson