Nantwich Town 2
Woodley Sports 1
Cheshire Senior Cup (Semi-Final)

Match Report

UNIBOND CHESHIRE CONTY FA SENIOR CUP

SEMI FINAL

Tuesday 20th January.2009.

NANTWICH TOWN 2 vs WOODLEY SPORTS 1
Dave Macpherson.84. Danny Queeley.77.
Dave Walker. 89.


Nantwich Town: Roberts. Jarrett. Tickle. Tinson©. Smith. Beeston. Carter. Macpherson. Whittaker. Lennon. Griggs. Substitutes: Walker. Gibson. Francis. Mahmoud. Southern.

Referee: Mr N.S.W Davies Attendance: 255.


MATCH REPORT

Nantwich left it late but goals from Dave MacPherson and substitute Dave Walker proved enough for the cup holders to go through and defend their title against Altrincham in what will be a repeat final of last season after the Blue Square Premier club beat Witton Albion 4 – 0 in the other semi final. Meanwhile, the home side gave 19 year old goal keeper Danny Roberts his first outing for Nantwich whilst youth team players Nathan Southern and Omar Mahmoud started from the bench.

The tie was only three minutes old when Nantwich went close to taking the lead. Michael Lennon took possession of the ball on the Woodley left and after seeing Connett off his line placed an angled shot toward an unguarded net only to witness his goal bound shot hacked off the line by a defender who seemed to appear from nowhere. Just before the quarter hour a Mark Beeston close range header was held on the line by the Woodley ‘keeper ahead of Dave Whittaker, who looked odds on to score but his close range effort struck the underside of the bar before cannoning to safety. Meanwhile, Nantwich were holding so much possession that at times Woodley were mere bystanders but with as many as eight men behind the ball, for the most part Nantwich were finding it hard to make a break through.

For Woodley, their first break came in the 27th minute when winger Danny Queeley received an angled pass from midfield but despite deceiving Damion Jarrett and jinxing past the Nantwich right back his lack of control saw him drag a low shot wide of the opposite side of goal. At the other end, the industrious Michael Lennon struck low from close range into the waiting hands of Connett whilst 8 minutes before the break Dave Whittaker was unlucky with a glancing header from a Lennon cross. On 44 minutes a Danny Griggs shot from distance fizzed wide of the right hand post whilst Roberts enjoyed a most comfortable opening on his debut having not had a shot to save.

Three minutes into the second period and despite Lennon, Whittaker and Griggs all placing shots from close range a sea of Woodley bodies managed to keep the home side at bay. It took until the 54th minute before Woodley had their second opportunity and on this occasion it was Gavin Salmon whose strike from distance fell a mere yard wide of the right hand post. But Nantwich continued to dictate proceedings, albeit without capitalising on their domination although Lennon went close in the 55th minute when his angled shot from the Woodley left flew over the near angle of post and bar. On the hour, a great cross from the unmarked Griggs was narrowly held by Connett against his left hand post before the Nantwich winger placed a shot from outside the area before falling into the hands of the Woodley custodian.

A couple of tactical changes in the 68th minute gave Woodley a much needed spark and when substitute Gary Gee found space just outside the 6 yard box his close range effort provided Roberts with his first save of the night. Nantwich defender Richard Smith came up to join yet another Nantwich attack with 20 minutes to go and after collecting the ball from a corner and cutting it back from the bye line lofted it toward the far post but despite Connett stretching he managed to hold on to the ball. On 75 minutes, Dave MacPherson was well placed to reach a Griggs centre but despite last weekend’s signing from Leek Town getting in with a close range glancing header it crept inches wide of the far post. But, two minutes later, and totally against the run of play, Woodley scored. In the build up to the goal, Woodley made a break along the Nantwich right and despite the close attention of Jarrett and Smith winger Danny Queeley managed to produce a rising shot from just inside the area that dipped past Roberts into the far bottom corner of the net. However, Nantwich were not to be outdone and with the pace of substitute youth team strikers Nathan Southern and Omar Mahmoud gradually unsettling the visitors, plus the introduction of Dave Walker into the attack, the home side profited first through MacPherson, who scored in the 84th minute, his second goal in two games, followed by Walker a minute from normal time. But, Woodley were not dead yet and in the second of three minutes of additional time Macpherson prevented a replay when he headed clear whilst standing almost in the goal mouth with Roberts beaten.

A relieved Nantwich head coach Steve Davis said: “A great result – and to achieve it against a side that quite clearly came for a draw by placing eight men behind the ball from the start, showed a lot of character. Yes, it was frustrating, and holding so much possession everyone was left wondering how long was it going to be before we scored. But, despite looking a little tired at times the lads continued to work away and in the end we got our just reward”.

Match report written by Phil Johnson