Stocksbridge Park Steels 5
Nantwich Town 3
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Date: Saturday 22nd August.2009


STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS 5 v NANTWICH TOWN 3
Jamie Vardy. 9. 64. 88. Michael Lennon. 63(P)
Brian Cusworth. 17. Matt Rhead. 69.
Adam Green.59. Omar Mahmoud. 90.

STOCKSBRIDGE: Scott. Green. Schofield. Dawson. Lovell. Hawes. Hirst. Telling. Cusworth. Vardy. Riley. Substitutes: Cockerill. Wilkinson. Stirrup. Ring. Ratcliffe.

NANTWICH TOWN: Jones. Sedgemore. Shaw. Sutton. Tinson. Flynn. Jack. Blackhurst. Carter. Rhead. Lennon.Substitutes: MacPherson. Mahmoud. Whittaker. Gibson. Southern.

Attendance: 271.

MATCH REPORT

Nantwich suffered a set back ahead of the visit to leaders Stocksbridge when loan signing Liam Dawson sustained a broken bone in a hand after falling heavily during a midweek game against Crewe Alexandra. Dawson, a 19 year old first year professional with league one Oldham Athletic is likely to be out of action for the next four weeks but the defender is expected to join the Nantwich squad once he has regained fitness.

Meanwhile, after the bitter disappointment of the midweek goalless draw against Worksop, in which both Matt Rhead and Ashley Carter were denied genuine goals ‘The Dabbers’ prepared for the visit to last seasons promoted Stocksbridge Park Steels whom earlier in the week assistant head coach Kevin Street had witnessed ‘The Steels’ demolish fellow promoted Durham City.

Unfortunately, ‘The Dabbers’ found themselves on the back foot early in the game against the free scoring leaders and were two goals adrift in the opening ten minutes. Stocksbridge were on a high after scoring nine goals in their opening two games and after consistently winning the first ball scythed through the midfield before Jamie Vardy scored the first of a hat trick in the 9th minute. Eight minutes later we went further behind when Brian Cusworth took advantage of poor marking to gift our hosts a 2-0 lead.

All too often ‘The Dabbers’ were second to the ball but striker Matty Rhead did carve out a couple of good chances, unfortunately though, both failing to hit the target when directing a couple of close range headers. In a further move, Glyn Blackhurst’s promising run into the area ended when his angled shot fizzed wide of the target.

But these were rare moments in the opening half during which ‘The Dabbers’ were often guilty of wayward exchanges, accompanied by some flimsy defending, and were it not for a fine parry by Lee Jones close to the break Vardy would have completed his hat trick before half time.

Half time. Stocksbridge Park Steels. 2 v NANTWICH TOWN 0

Sadly, ‘The Dabbers’ conceded again when unmarked defender Adam Green touched home Dave Cockerill’s 59th minute free kick. But a lifeline arrived in the shape of a penalty when Alvyn Riley was adjudged to have handled Rodney Jack’s 62nd minute shot. Michael Lennon clinically dispatching from the spot but a minute later, Vardy struck the second of his hat trick after Alyn Riley’s initial shot came back off an upright leaving ‘The Dabbers’ with a mountain to climb. However, we continued to plug away and on 69 minutes Matty Rhead reduced the deficit with a well taken header from a Michael Lennon cross whilst both Rhead and Jake Sedgemore went close as the clock ran down. However, Stocksbridge were still catching us on the break and two minutes from normal time the points were sealed when Vardy completed his hat trick whilst it was left to substitute Omar Mahmoud to score the last, and arguably the best goal of the day, with his first UniBond Premier Division goal right on the stroke of normal time.

Note: Head coach Peter Hall is on holiday for the next two weeks. Assistant Kevin Street takes charge in his absence.

Match report written by Phil Johnson