Marine 0
Nantwich Town 2
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

ROBINSON SINKS MARINERS

UniBond League Premier Division - Saturday 26 December 2009

Marine 0 Nantwich Town 2
Robinson 42, 90+1

Former Premiership marksman Marvin Robinson struck twice to fire Nantwich to their first away win to count in the league since August. It was just reward for the Dabbers who played some tidy football in difficult conditions after the College Road pitch was passed fit after a late inspection.

Marine were first to show with dangerman Jamie Rainford testing the visiting defence but Nantwich got a foothold on the game with the industrious Kevin Street testing Tim Dittmer with a skidding long ranger. At the other end, Ben Chapman got down well to deny Stephen Johnson then Tony Davies headed over from Mark King’s free kick before Nantwich almost broke the deadlock.

Robinson combined neatly with Andy Kinsey to free Ashley Carter on the edge of the box but his drive across the face of goal eluded everyone. Robinson couldn’t quite climb high enough to direct his header from Street’s cross but he did capitalise on Nantwich’s pressure three minutes before the break. It was third time lucky for the visitors with Robinson netting after strikes by Street and Kinsey had both been blocked in a crowded goalmouth.

After the interval, Marine came more into the game but Davies was only able to find the side netting after Chapman’s diving one-handed save. Nantwich had a golden opportunity to increase their lead midway through the half when Port Vale loanee Ross Davidson forged forward and slipped the ball into the path of Carter but the youngster failed to hit the target.

Chapman parried away a Steven Hussey strike before Nantwich had a huge let-off 13 minutes from time. Hussey’s strike hit the post and rebounded onto Rainford’s shin a yard out but the luckless striker saw the ball bounce agonisingly wide of the upright.

Substitute Liam Rushton should have done better with a header from Hussey’s cross before Nantwich wrapped up the points in added time. Substitute Sam Madeley raced down the left and when he pulled the ball back into the danger area, Robinson was on hand to stroke home his fourth goal in two games for the Dabbers.

Nantwich: Chapman, Davidson, Flynn, Sutton, Tinson, Sedgemore, Street, MacPherson, Kinsey, Robinson, Ashley Carter. Subs: Lennon, Blackhurst, Madeley (for Kinsey, 88), Aaron Carter, Jack (for Street, 78)

Attendance: 369

Match report written by Michael Chatwin