Hednesford Town 3
Nantwich Town 2
FA Trophy (1st Round)

Match Report

First Round Proper

Tuesday. 16th December.2008

HEDNESFORD TOWN 3 vs NANTWICH TOWN 2
Ross Dyer. 25.60 Dave Whittaker. 27.
Elliott Durrell.55 Gomes og 57

Nantwich: Jones. Jarrett. Tickle. Tinson. Whittaker. Carter. Parkinson © . Westwood. Gibson. Lennon. Walker. Substitutes: Smith. Francis. Beeston. Jack. Roberts g/k.

MATCH REPORT

This first round tie was rearranged following postponement last Saturday due to a waterlogged pitch and although the tie went ahead last evening (Tuesday) the surface remained extremely heavy leading to more than one mistake as players struggled to obtain a footing.

The opening 20 minutes were fairly even but in the 25th minute a somewhat bizarre situation occurred when Nantwich centre half Darren Tinson made a clearance - the ball then striking Ross Dyer before diverting past goal keeper Lee Jones to give the home side a somewhat fortuitous lead. However, two minutes later, Nantwich were level courtesy of a Dave Whittaker close range downward header following a Dave Tickle corner at a time when the home defence were under pressure. Nantwich continued to press and just after the half hour Nantwich really should have gone ahead but poor finishing from Dave Walker, Michael Lennon and Ashley Carter respectively let Hednesford off the hook when each were involved in one on one situations with the home goal keeper. With the tie approaching the half way mark it was Nantwich who looked the side most likely to score but again, poor finishing from Walker and Lennon ensured the score remained level at the break.

After the break, Hednesford stepped up the pace and in the 55th minute Elliott Durrell took advantage of some poor defending to restore the home side’s lead. But in an almost repeat of the first half, Nantwich levelled two minutes later although on this occasion it was Ashley Carter who powered forward to place a shot on target – the initial shot repelled by the Hednesford goal keeper into the path of Carter whose follow up shot struck the head of Gomez before deflecting into the net to square the tie once more. However, poor defending was to cost Nantwich yet again – this time on the hour and it was Ross Dyer who completed his brace to restore Hednesford’s lead for the third time in the match. But, despite the setback Nantwich dug in and for the next 15 minutes had 90% of the play. Robin Gibson hit a 30 yard screamer that took a deflection on its way toward goal meanwhile, on loan Crewe Alexandra’s Ashley Westwood was impressing in a midfield role, as opposed to a normal defensive one, whilst the hard working Michael Lennon eventually made way for Rodney Jack, the former Crewe forward joining Walker in attack as Nantwich desperately sought an equalizer.

In a further attempt, at least to force a replay, Nantwich reverted to a three man defence with Dave Whittaker moving to the front line to join Walker and Jack. Walker had a chance to level in the closing minutes but the Hednesford ‘keeper blocked at the foot of a post. Meanwhile, Richard Smith replaced Damion Jarrett in the right back position but although Nantwich were in the ascendancy they were unable to secure that vital break through that would at least have taken the tie back to The Weaver Stadium for a replay. Just to compound the defeat, Ashley Westwood was dismissed for a second bookable offence late in the game.

Nantwich head coach Steve Davis said afterwards: “We’ve been here before – creating lots of chances but thrown away mainly due to poor finishing, plus a few defensive errors in between. It is easy to say this, but we genuinely could have had four goals to our credit in the first half alone. The tie was there for the taking, but my feeling is we have gifted it to Hednesford”.

Match report written by Phil Johnson