Nantwich Town 2
Northwich Victoria 1
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

EVO-STIK FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Premier Division
MATCH REPORT

Monday 30th August.2010

NANTWICH TOWN 2 v NORTHWICH VICTORIA 1
Kyle Blake. 48 John McAliskey. 86.
Omar Mahmoud. 66
Nantwich: Chapman. Carter. Flynn (c) (Mahmoud 45). Adams. Tinson. Parkes (Aspinwall 83). Blake. Carr. Whittaker. Lennon. Jack. Substitutes: Aspinwall. Madeley. Mahmoud. Street. Blackhurst.
Northwich: Spencer (c). Disney. Sumner. Fodor. O’Brien. Henry. Riley. Connor (Barnett 85). Ryan. Fowler (McAliskey 60). Crane. Substitutes: Jackson. Williams. Clegg. Barnett. McAliskey.

Referee: Mr P. Dunn
Attendance: 833
Northwich were making their first visit to the Weaver Stadium and whilst both clubs have met on several occasions in cup competitions down the years this game represented the first league meeting between the two for over 70 years. Arriving on the back of three consecutive victories from their opening matches, which had piloted them to second in the premier division, the ‘Vics’ started as clear favourites, whilst Nantwich, without a point on the board from their opening games, kicked off lying second from bottom of the table. Meanwhile, the ‘Dabbers’ continue to be affected by the absence of key players due to injury so joint managers Kevin Street and Darren Tinson were forced into a changed line up for the fourth match in succession.
In dry, perfect conditions, Nantwich took the game to Northwich from the start and as early as the second minute MICHAEL LENNON worked his way deep along the visitors left before cutting the ball back into the path of midfielder KYLE BLAKE whose well timed pass was met by the onrushing RODNEY JACK. JACK responded with a well hit 20 yard ground shot that initially looked goal bound and were it not for a fortunate deflection off a defender, Northwich goalkeeper, and captain JAMES SPENCER, may well have had his work cut out to prevent the ball entering the net. Meanwhile, ‘Dabbers’ captain CHRIS FLYNN, deputising for the injured DAVE TICKLE, made a valuable clearance as Northwich made a quick break from midfield and then as the game switched ends a BLAKE free kick fell neatly into the path of Nantwich defender DANNY ADAMS but, despite being in a good position 15 yards out the ball spun away from the target after striking with his right, as opposed to his normal left foot whilst a minute later, FLYNN flicked a header from a BLAKE corner a yard wide of the far post. Meanwhile, Northwich broke quickly and BLAKE was again to the fore, this time to halt the run of lively ‘Vics’ front man OLLIE RYAN followed by Nantwich ‘keeper BEN CHAPMAN who climbed to seize the in swinging centre from combative midfielder PAUL HENRY.
Twenty minutes had now elapsed and the entertaining match was frequently changing ends. For the home side, a JACK free kick was well on target until it deflected off a defender for a throw-in whilst at the other end, the same player broke up a Northwich move, albeit at the expense of a corner. Northwich, who forced the Nantwich rearguard into a tangle in the 24th minute, thought they had gone ahead through WAYNE RILEY but at the time the ball entered the net at least three ‘Vics’ players were in an offside position. Play then returned to the visitors half and thanks’ to LENNON’S persistence from a DAVE WHITTAKER throw-in Nantwich secured a corner from which WHITTAKER rose above the defence but placed his header wide. A minute later, Northwich won a corner and in a crowded 6 yard box Northwich central defender FERENC FODOR directed his header wide of the far post and then thanks’ to the outstretched legs of CHAPMAN, the on target shot of RILEY was blocked.
On 38 minutes, the hard working LENNON brought a diving save out of SPENCER despite having his shirt tugged as he cut back from the bye line inside the area. However, referee Dunn elected play to go on and waved penalty appeals away. A minute from the break Nantwich midfielder TOM PARKES deflected a header from a corner into the path of the industrious midfield general MICHAEL CARR who responded with a ground shot that was hacked away up field before play was brought to a halt due to FLYNN pulling up with what later was diagnosed as a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, as FLYNN hobbled to the dressing room OMAR MAHMOUD took up position in midfield with JACK moving to left back.
HT: Nantwich Town 0 v Northwich Victoria 0

A minute into the second half and appeals for a penalty were again waved away despite LENNON being flattened in the area when in possession. A minute later LENNON secured a corner from which TINSON lofted a clearance over the defence toward the waiting LENNON. Unfortunatley,the pace of the ball took it away from the Nantwich striker.
GOAL: Nantwich deservedly went ahead in the 48th minute when BLAKE’S persistence allowed him to break free from the challenge of ‘Vics’ right back JOHN DISNEY and then drawing SPENCER off his line and tucking the ball beyond the visitors custodian and winning applause from the vast majority of the bank holiday crowd. Nantwich then had a chance to increase their lead through LENNON whose close range shot struck the side netting whilst in the 61st minute HENRY’S well hit strike flew off the body of CHAPMAN at the expense of a corner.
GOAL: A calamitous Northwich defence conceded a bizarre goal in the 66th minute when first LENNON beat two challenges before wrapping his right foot around the ball and striking the angle of post and bar - the ball rebounding into the heart of the Northwich defence who failed to clear leaving MAHMOUD to nip round the back and slide the ball into a completely unguarded net for his first goal of the campaign.
Just past the hour, a RILEY free kick was only just held by CHAPMAN whilst at the other end CARR brought LENNON into play that left SPENCER to pull off a comfortable save. At the other end, Northwich midfielder MICHAEL CONNOR was in an unmarked position a mere 8 yards from goal but failed to latch on to an incoming cross from the opposite flank whilst moments later LENNON tested SPENCER yet again from short distance and when play switched ends again CONNOR missed the target with a header from close range.
GOAL: An under hit ball from TINSON to CHAPMAN was intercepted by ‘Vics’ substitute striker JOHN McALISKEY who ran on to fire past CHAPMAN from just inside the area to set up a grandstand finish. Northwich sensed there was at least a point to return home with and as normal time approached launched several attacks during which referee DUNN missed a deliberate hand ball by RILEY. However, Nantwich remained calm to the last and despite three minutes of additional time kept the ball deep in the visitors half to record their first win of the new campaign thanks to a very creditable performance that drew well deserved applause at the finish.

FT: Nantwich Town 2 v Northwich Victoria 1

Match report written by Ashley Houghton