Rugby Town  1
Nantwich Town 3
FA Trophy (2nd Round Qualifying)

Match Report

FA TROPHY.2nd Qualifying Round.

Saturday 1st November.2008.

Rugby Town 1 v NANTWICH TOWN 3
Musgrove.25. pen Walker.14
Carter.44.50


Nantwich Town: Jones. Smith. Tickle (Jarrett 55). Tinson. O’Loughlin. Parkinson. Carter. Blackhurst. Walker (Shotton 90). Whittaker. Griggs (Gibson 87). Substitutes: Lennon. Naggington. Shotton. Gibson. Jarrett.

Referee: Mr A.Newbold. Attendance: 238


MATCH REPORT

Any concerns regarding a possible hangover from results of their last two games were quickly banished at Butlin Road where Nantwich put on a confident display to deservedly progress to the 3rd Qualifying Round of non league’s premier cup competition.

Meanwhile, ‘The Dabbers’ were without Mark Beeston (leg injury) whilst Glyn Blackhurst passed a late fitness but Rodney Jack, who was widely expected to be in the squad, picked up an injury during Thursday’s training session and failed to recover in time.

Nantwich won the toss and were quickly out of the blocks opening up their opponents with some slick football on a surface that clearly suited Steve Davis’s men. Rugby too were adept at producing some tidy football but it was Nantwich who looked the sharper, closing Rugby down early and attacking on the counter. And it was during one of those early attacks that Nantwich threatened through Dave Walker who was the beneficiary of good work by Darren Tinson and Ashley Carter, the latter setting up Walker who went close with a flying header from 12 yards. Glyn Blackhust was the next Nantwich player to threaten the Rugby goal but was most unfortunate to witness his chipped shot over stranded goalkeeper Stevens hacked from under the bar by a defender. It seemed only a matter of time before the impressive Nantwich scored and they duly went in front in the 14th minute through Walker. The build up came via a well taken Danny Griggs corner kick, the ball reaching Dave Whittaker at the far post whose bullet header cannoned off the upright – across the 6 yard box from where the unmarked Walker entered double figures to score his 10th goal of the season. Meanwhile, Walker had another chance to increase his tally after an initial long throw-in from Blackhurst reached Charlie O’Loughlin whose downward header then guided into the path of Walker before his curling shot finished over the angle of post and bar. In the 23rd minute Whittaker and Walker combined in yet a further Nantwich attack but, just as Walker was about to change direction in the 6 yard box a defenders foot nicked the ball away and with it, a great opportunity disappeared.

However, despite Nantwich dominance the home side drew level in the 25th minute after O’Loughlin upended Rugby striker David Stone as he sped into the box from the left hand side, winger Scott Musgrove tucking the resultant penalty away with confidence. Meanwhile, Nantwich responded through Carter who might have done better when in a one on one with Stevens, side footed his close range shot at the Rugby custodian. On 35 minutes Griggs delivered a perfect cross field pass into the path of Phil Parkinson who was unfortunate to witness his low shot from outside the area smothered by Stevens on his line. Shortly afterwards, Griggs and Parkinson combined again but on this occasion, the Nantwich captain’s 20 yard volley careered over the bar. Meantime, Rugby strung a few passes together in a bid to break the Nantwich dominance but few created little of note – Nantwich were generally always on hand to tidy up and turn defence into attack. Eight minutes from the break a Griggs well taken free kick from outside the area beat the wall but then went straight through to the ‘keeper however, it looked only a matter of time before Nantwich retook the lead and a minute before time Ashley Carter produced the first of a brace when he turned his marker just outside the 6 yard box before drawing Stevens and tucking the ball under the diving Rugby custodian.

After the break Griggs, Blackhurst and Whittaker combined in a move that placed Whittaker in an advantageous position but a delay in executing his shot allowed the gap to close and the chance with it spoiled as the ball fell a shade wide of the left hand post. However, Nantwich custodian Lee Jones, who was enjoying a somewhat quiet afternoon, punted a rare clearance down field that was flicked on by Whittaker for Carter to run on to before cutting in from the right and rolling the ball past the stranded Stevens in the 50th minute ahead of a desperate attempt by a defender to hack the ball off the line. Meanwhile, Rugby won a rare corner after a shot glanced off the head of O’Loughlin and over the bye line but it was not long before the rampant Nantwich returned with a great effort from Blackhurst that unfortunately struck the side netting after initial good work by Carter followed by a well struck free kick from Griggs that fizzed inches wide of the right hand post. A collision then left Blackhurst struggling to continue with a foot injury however, the combative Nantwich midfielder literally gritted his teeth in a brave effort to support the cause but there was no such opportunity for left back colleague Dave Tickle who succumbed to a groin injury before leaving the pitch to be replaced by Damion Jarrett – a role most unfamiliar in consideration his normal role is that of a right back. However, any disadvantage Nantwich might have initially endured was quickly dispelled with Jarrett providing good support to his fellow players – in one such, move he was instrumental in winning a 66th minute corner from which Blackhurst rose at the far post to place a glancing header a yard wide of the upright. In the later stages of the tie Rugby pressed hard and only a timely intervention from O’Loughlin halted the run of Stone. Three minutes from normal time Robin Gibson made a rare appearance when he came on for the departing Griggs – at the other end, Rugby substitute Darren Dyes drilled a powerful 20 yard strike from which Jones got down well to smother on his line – for Nantwich,Liam Shotton replaced Dave Walker in the 90th minute whilst in added time, Rugby substitute Darren Pearson stretched for a header but couldn’t direct it on target.

Steve Davis commented:- “ A very confident display by the lads. Despite the results of the last two games we had a good training session on Thursday and the benefits from that transferred into this result. The performance was one from how we know this team are capable of producing on a regular basis but as we know, from time to time a different Nantwich turn up. Rugby were complimentary and said that on the day, we were just too good for them”.

Match report written by Phil Johnson