Nantwich Town 5
Kendal Town 3
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

EVO-STIK FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Premier Division
Saturday 2nd October.2010
NANTWICH TOWN 5 v KENDAL TOWN 3
Glynn Blackhurst 11 Danny Rowe. 38.61
Rodney Jack. 13 Dave Tickle OG 90
Michael Carr. 30.
Michael Lennon. 32
Jordan Connerton. 59.

NANTWICH: Chapman. Flynn (c). Tickle. Adams (Whittaker 68). Reeves. Carr. Jack (Blake 65). Blackhurst Connerton. Lennon. Ashley Carter. Substitutes: Blake. Whittaker. Sedgemore. Aspinwall. Aaron Carter.
KENDAL: Newnes. Walmsley. Ashcroft. Melling. Steel(c) Maghan 80). Stopforth. Osman (Winters 46). Rowe. Mulvaney (Taylor 46). Clarke. Wisdom. Substitutes: Kilford. Maghan. Aaron Taylor. Tucker. Winters.
Referee: Mr M.D’Aguilar.
Attendance: 314.
Kendal were the first to show and in the first minute a break down the Nantwich left saw striker LEE MULVANEY attack the home goal with an on target header that tested BEN CHAPMAN in the home goal. Moment’s later Nantwich striker MICHAEL LENNON was dispossessed in midfield allowing midfielder DANNY ROWE to place a shot on target that forced CHAPMAN to dive low to his left to make a save. Meanwhile, at the other end, on loan Crewe Alexandra striker JORDAN CONNERTON played a simple pass to well positioned Nantwich winger ASHLEY CARTER who was unlucky with a finish that struck a post. But as the early minutes ticked by Nantwich confidence grew and were rewarded with a goal in the 11th minute following a deft touch of the ball from CONNERTON into the path of the overlapping LENNON who followed up by putting ‘Dabbers’ midfielder GLYN BLACKHURST through on goal and in a one on one with Kendal ‘keeper DAVID NEWNES placed his shot across the bows of NEWNES for the opening goal.
Buoyed by this early opening Nantwich went further ahead in the 13th minute through RODNEY JACK – the veteran wingers second goal in two games after a pass started by man of the match midfielder MICHAEL CARR was played from halfway inside the Kendal half to BLACKHURST and from BLACKHURST’S well timed pass JACK struck an angled shot that went under NEWNES into the bottom far corner of the net.
Despite the deficit Kendal were proving a handful for the home side who had to be alert in particular to quick forward runs by DANNY WISDOM, GAVIN CLARKE LEE MULVANEY and DANNY ROWE. However, Kendal were outpaced for the 3rd Nantwich goal following excellent play by CONNERTON on the half hour, holding the ball up well before laying off into the path of MICHAEL CARR who produced an exquisite finish to stretch Nantwich’s lead. And that lead stretched further still two minutes later when from a DAVE TICKLE corner the ball arched over the Kendal defence and quite what NEWNES was thinking but he placed the ball on to the head of LENNON who calmly lifted it over the head of the embarrassed Kendal custodian from a yard out.
However, in the 38th minute the old Nantwich defensive hoodoo struck again leaving Kendal midfielder DANNY ROWE time and space to take advantage of poor marking to fire past CHAPMAN from 12 yards.
HT: Nantwich town 4 v Kendal Town 1
Kendal didn’t remain in the dressing room for long and it was clear to see that they weren’t going to allow their hosts the time and space to inflict further damage. However, it was Nantwich who looked the side more likely to score in the opening minutes of the second half and from a 5 man move that started in the Kendal half BLACKHURST had a great chance to get on the score sheet again but disappointed when firing over the bar from close range when well placed. Meanwhile, on loan CONNERTON, who was gradually building an understanding with LENNON was rewarded for his efforts in the 59th minute when he remained cool, calm and collected to hold the ball up from a CARTER cross from the left to tuck the ball past NEWNES from a couple of yards out.
In the 61st minute ROWE scored his second for Kendal – again, after attention deficit syndrome fell over the home defence leaving ROWE to nonchalantly head the ball over CHAPMAN from close range whilst Nantwich defensive misery was completed when TICKLE put through his own net when under pressure.

FT: Nantwich Town 5 v Kendal Town 3
Man of the Match: MICHAEL CARR. Nantwich Town.
Rating ****

Match report written by Ashley Houghton