Bradford (Park Avenue) 3
Nantwich Town 2
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Saturday 5th December.2009.


BRADFORD PARK AVENUE 3 v NANTWICH TOWN 2
Simon Baldry.26 Dave McPherson. 31
Aiden Savory.32 Jake Sedgemore. 85
Mark Hume.52


Nantwich included latest signings ANDY KINSEY and MARVIN ROBINSON in their squad to face third placed Bradford. KINSEY went straight into the starting line-up whilst ROBINSON took a place on the bench. Meanwhile, AARON CARTER occupied the right back slot at the expense of CHARLIE REEVES whilst there were no places either for MATT RHEAD, RODNEY JACK or OMAR MAHMOUD. CHRIS FLYNN continues to sit out games due to a lengthy suspension.

Bradford placed Nantwich under pressure from the start and in the early stages looked the more likely to score. However, the first piece of goalmouth action didn’t arrive until the 12th minute when AARON CARTER was called upon to deal with a cross from ‘Avenue’ midfielder SIMON BALDRY, albeit at the expense of a corner for which LEE JONES handled well before releasing the ball to send Nantwich forward. And it was from that move that the ‘Dabbers’ constructed their first attack of note on STEVE DICKINSON’S goal, which unfortunately ended with MICHAEL LENNON’S shot falling wide of the target. In a further opportunity, ASHLEY CARTER met LENNON’S deep cross but the header from the Nantwich No.7 fell wide of the target whilst moments later LENNON himself had another opportunity, but his close range effort lifted over the bar.

GOAL: 26 Minutes. Bradford won a free kick marginally outside the ‘Dabbers’ area. Bradford defender MARTIN DRURY’S fiercely struck left foot dead ball kick proved a little too hot to handle for ‘JONAH’ and there to take advantage of the loose ball was defender MARK HUME who slid the ball across the face of goal into the path of BALDRY, who was presented with the easiest of tasks to poke the ball home from close range.

GOAL: 31 Minutes. DAVE McPHERSON’S industry brought Nantwich a deserved equalizer following initial good work by ANDY KINSEY and LENNON – ‘MACCA’ weaving his way into the box before waltzing past two defenders and beating DICKINSON with a great finish from around 12 yards.

GOAL: 32 Minutes. Bradford defender STEVEN DOWNS started a move down the right and finished with a deep cross to the far post from where the unmarked AIDEN SAVORY headed the ball past JONES from close range.

Meanwhile, LENNON carved out a further opportunity but again, the finish lacked direction as the ball sailed wide of the target.

Bradford continued to press, and generally were having the better of the exchanges on what was a very heavy pitch, where at times, the ball simply stopped dead following a shot or a pass.

HT: BRADFORD PARK AVENUE 2 v NANTWICH TOWN 1.

Nantwich made a change straight after the break – LIAM DAWSON replacing Dave TICKLE at left back.

On 50 minutes, the dangerous HUME got on the end of a corner to plant a header on target but which struck the underside of the bar before clearance. However, the journeyman defender was not to be denied and two minutes later scored his second goal against the ‘Dabbers’, the first being an 85th minute winner the week before at the Weaver Stadium.

GOAL: 52 Minutes. ‘Avenue’ left back DRURY made a break down the right before bringing the well placed BALDRY into play and it was his well executed pass across the 6 yard box into the path of HUME that allowed the former Barrow and Eastwood Town defender to score from close range.

On 70 minutes Nantwich made a second substitution – SAM MADELEY replacing LENNON whilst 10 minutes later were forced to make their final change after defender RITCHIE SUTTON complained of blurred vision- DAVE WHITTAKER replacing him alongside DARREN TINSON at the heart of defence, which effectively prevented the introduction of MARVIN ROBINSON in attack.

GOAL: 85 Minutes. Following a foul on KINSEY just outside the area JAKE SEDGEMORE rifled a peach of a free kick past the wall beyond DICKINSON to set up a tense finish.

Jones was by far the busier of the two ‘keepers throughout the match but, credit to Nantwich, they continued to plug away in search of an equaliser but Bradford, who are looking strong contenders for promotion at the moment, kept their composure to secure back to back victories over the ‘Dabbers’ on consecutive weekends.

NANTWICH: Jones. Aaron Carter, Tickle (Dawson 45), Tinson, Sutton (Whittaker 80), Sedgemore, Ashley Carter, Blackhurst, Kinsey, Lennon (Madeley 70), MacPherson. Substitutes: Street, Dawson, Whittaker, Madeley, Robinson.

Attendance: 325.

Match report written by Phil Johnson