Stocksbridge Park Steels 3
Nantwich Town 1
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Evo-Stik Football League
Premier Division
Saturday 28th August.2010

STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS 3 v NANTWICH TOWN 1
Mark Ward.24 Michael Lennon.4
Wayne Riley.58
Andy Ring.89

NANTWICH: Chapman. McAnulty. Flynn. Adams. Tinson. Carr. Carter. Parkes. Whittaker. Lennon. Aspinwall. Substitutes: Blake. Mahmoud. Jack. Street.
Nantwich were without Dave Tickle, Glynn Blackhurst, Jake Sedgemore and Marvin Robinson for the visit to Stocksbridge. Meanwhile, despite carrying a neck injury, joint manager Darren Tinson was pressed into action at the heart of defence whilst fellow joint manager Kevin Street was forced to include himself on the four man substitute’s bench.
With a strong wind at their tails the ‘Dabbers’ began brightly and as early as the first minute ASHLEY CARTER was fouled midway inside the Stocksbridge half –MICHAEL CARR taking the free kick, which was blocked initially by the hosts goalkeeper before rebounding into the path of CARR whose follow up was pushed over the bar for a corner.
GOAL: Nantwich swept into a 4th minute lead through MICHAEL LENNON after CARTER’S incisive through ball from midfield reached LENNON who beat the offside trap before tucking his shot under ADAM OGDEN from close range to score his first goal of the season.
Meanwhile, ’Dabbers’ No.1 BEN CHAPMAN excelled when he held a fierce 25 yard free kick before the game settled into an end to end contest. However, it was Nantwich who went close to adding to their account and it was front man DAVE WHITTAKER –first when his close range header from a corner was hacked off the line only for DARREN TINSON to blaze over from similar range- WHITTAKER then miscued a sitter from CARR’S cross followed by a SAM ASPINWALL centre that WHITTAKER stretched for but couldn’t quite get the ball on target.
GOAL: Lee McAnulty’s ill timed return ball to CHAPMAN was seized upon by MARK WARD in the 24th minute who made no mistake from close range to square the match at a time when Nantwich were well on top.
Both sides continued to be affected by the strong swirling wind that enveloped the elevated Bracken Moor Stadium but it was Nantwich who finished the strongest and but for the defensive error that allowed Stocksbridge striker WARD to capitalize Nantwich would more than have deserved a half time lead.
HT: Stocksbridge Park Steels 1 v Nantwich Town 1

The second half opened in similar fashion to the first although it was Nantwich who now had the strong wind in their faces.
GOAL: A defensive error cost Nantwich yet again, this time in the 58th minute when McANULTY was caught in possession around the halfway line – Stocksbridge striker WAYNE RILEY taking advantage to run on and fire past CHAPMAN.
DISMISSAL: Nantwich endured further misery when midfielder TOM PARKES was awarded a straight red card for a heavy challenge on striker JACK MULDOON in the 75th minute.
Meanwhile, Stocksbridge had further opportunities, mainly through WARD and midfielder ALEX CALLERY whilst at the other end, LENNON and WHITTAKER continued the Nantwich fight to get back on level terms, albeit without success.
GOAL: Stocksbridge substitute striker ANDY RING was allowed to progress through an almost static Nantwich defence in the 89th minute to effectively seal the points for the ‘Steels’.

FT: Stocksbridge Park Steels 3 v Nantwich Town 1.

Match report written by Ashley Houghton