Buxton 0
Nantwich Town 0
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Saturday 3rd October.2009

BUXTON 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 0

Strong winds accompanied by showers produced testing conditions at the Silverlands Stadium. Nantwich, playing up the slope against a strong wind started brightly but the first real chance of the game came in the 20th minute when Buxton’s Kieran Lugsden tested Lee Jones with a rasping shot that Jones did well to save. Meanwhile, Omar Mahmoud set up Ashley Carter whose shot was parried by Buxton goalkeeper Scott Hartley into the path of debutant signing Kelvin Mellor whose lay off to Mahmoud earned the ‘Dabbers’ a corner. From the corner Dave Whittaker rose above a packed 6 yard box and was unlucky to see his close range header fall the wrong side of a post.

Penalty: 25 mins. Mahmoud was brought down in the box by Buxton midfielder Joe Wilcox. Carter took the penalty but Nantwich were denied the lead by the reaction of Hartley who blocked the spot kick after diving low across the path of the ball.

Buxton then had an opportunity when Scott Maxfield set up defender turned emergency striker Tommy Agus but finished wide of the target.

On the half hour ‘The Dabbers’ injury hoodoo struck again when Mahmoud had to be replaced due to an ankle injury and was replaced by Rodney Jack.

Buxton then had a purple patch during which forward Gavin Knight threatened, first with an overhead bicycle kick that dropped wide of goal whilst in a further move Darren Tinson somehow managed to back heel Knight’s shot away from the target whilst Maxfield’s shot following a corner was pushed around a post by Jones.

Moments before the break Rodney Jack waltzed past four Buxton players before witnessing his long range shot narrowly clear the cross bar.

HT: Buxton 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 0

An hour passed without the deadlock being broken. Chances were few and far between in a game where conditions were a dictating factor. However, Buxton were given an opportunity to take the lead in the 75th minute when Dave Whittaker brought down substitute striker Doryl Proffitt in the area but, in a carbon copy of Nantwich’s first half penalty, Jones dived the right way to block Knight’s spot kick. Meanwhile, Aidan Haughton replaced Mellor in midfield and within moments of his introduction the former Port Vale youngster had a great chance to get on the score sheet but fired straight at Hartley.

Buxton finished the stronger with Proffitt going close with a diving header after Knight headed back former Stoke City midfielder Geoff McGaw's cross. However, Nantwich held their ground and dealt effectively with everything the hosts threw at them. Matt Rhead had a late chance to break the deadlock but Hartley saved his powerful strike. It wasn’t a classic with very little football of note played by either side but, given the conditions, it was no surprise. Nantwich maintain their unbeaten run against the Derbyshire side but with suspensions and injuries continuing to eat into the squad it’s nigh impossible at the moment for Peter Hall to field a settled side.

FT: Buxton 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 0.

NANTWICH: Jones. Reeves. Tickle. Whittaker. Tinson. Sedgemore. Mellor. Blackhurst. Rhead. Carter. Mahmoud. Substitutes: Aaron Carter. Jack. Flynn. Haughton. Chapman.
Attendance.403

Match report written by Phil Johnson