Nantwich Town 4
Hucknall Town 1
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Saturday 17th April.2010

NANTWICH TOWN 4 v HUCKNALL TOWN 1
Michael Lennon.38. 52 Rueben Wiggins-Thomas. 68
Jake Sedgemore. 62 (pen)
Marvin Robinson.84

NANTWICH: Chapman. McAnulty. McPherson. Sutton. Tinson(c). Sedgemore. Jack (Carter 73). Blackhurst. Whittaker. Lennon (Robinson 78). Flynn. Substitutes: Robinson. Mahmood. Southern. Tickle. Carter.

HUCKNALL: Haystead. Smedley. Smith. Garner. McCormick (Francis 75). Hawes. Hawkridge. Meikle. Hatfield. Williams (O’Brien 55). Wiggins-Thomas (DeBrouwer 85). Substitutes: DeBrouwer. Francis. O’Brien. Bryant. Antwon.

Referee: Mr A. Moore
Attendance: 503.

The opening quarter hour was virtually one way traffic with Nantwich surging forward at every opportunity. In the first of many attacks RODNEY JACK played in CHRIS FLYNN who’s first time shot was hacked off the line followed shortly after by a DAVE WHITTAKER volley that whistled inches past the foot of an upright. The home side won their first corner in the 11th minute in which JAKE SEDGEMORE’S flag kick found RICHIE SUTTON – the Nantwich defenders volley hacked out of the Hucknall goalmouth before reaching DAVE McPHERSON who responded by playing the ball back into the 6 yard area. However, the Hucknall defence responded well to send the visitors away on their first attack before interruption on the halfway line from where Nantwich turned play back in their favour before a MICHAEL LENNON strike was hacked off the line before being turned away for a corner.

Up to the opening half hour Hucknall No.1 DANNY HAYSTEAD was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers and in the 20th minute he was finally beaten by LENNON but the Nantwich striker’s goal was ruled out for an offside infringement.

GOAL: 38 Minutes. WHITTAKER won the ball in midfield before bringing LENNON into play just outside the area – LENNON surging forward to unhinge the Hucknall defence before tucking it under the diving body of HAYSTEAD to give the home side a deserved lead.

HT: NANTWICH TOWN 1 v HUCKNALL TOWN 0

GOAL: 52 Minutes. JACK delivered a superb crossfield ball into the path of LENNON who responded with a first time shot that although looking to have taken a slight deflection flew past HAYSTEAD to increase Nantwich Town’s deserved lead.

GOAL: 62 Minutes. Nantwich awarded a penalty after LENNON flicked the ball around Hucknall defender ROB McCORMICK whilst en route to goal, meanwhile McCORMICK stuck out a hand with the intention of deflecting it out of LENNON’S path. JAKE SEDGEMORE sending HAYSTEAD the wrong way from the penalty spot to put Nantwich firmly in the driving seat.
INCIDENT.67 Minutes: Nantwich central defender and captain DARREN TINSON and Hucknall striker WARREN HATFIELD involved in a tussle. Both players awarded yellow cards – meanwhile Nantwich defender RICHIE SUTTON given a straight red card for violent conduct after he was alleged to have pushed HATFIELD during the same incident.

GOAL: 68 Minutes. Following the incident 10 man Nantwich came under a lot of pressure from Hucknall during which RUEBEN WIGGINS-THOMES beat ‘Dabbers’ goalkeeper BEN CHAPMAN from close range. Meanwhile, LENNON was given a yellow card for something he said to referee MOORE and almost immediately LENNON was replaced by MARVIN ROBINSON.

GOAL: 84 Minutes. Substitute MARVIN ROBINSON struck with a cracking 25 yard shot that HAYSTEAD just managed to parry for a corner. SEDGEMORE’S inch perfect corner kick fell to ROBINSON who responded with a superb first time shot that flew into the roof of the net giving HAYSTEAD no chance to produce a save.

FT: NANTWICH TOWN 4 v HUCKNALL TOWN 1

Nantwich signed off at the Weaver Stadium by extending their unbeaten run to 5 games ahead of next weekend’s final premier division game away to Ossett Town.

Star Man: GLYN BLACKHURST. (Nantwich Town).
Match Rating: ****

Match report written by Phil Johnson