Nantwich Town 2
Matlock Town 3
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

EVO-STIK FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Premier Division

NANTWICH TOWN 2 v MATLOCK TOWN 3
Michael Lennon.11 Ross Hannah.16.87
Charlie Reeves. 80 Gareth Davies.75

Nantwich: Chapman. Carter. Jack. Flynn (c). Reeves. Carr (Blake 78). Sedgemore. Blackhurst. Whittaker. Lennon. Southern. Substitutes: Blake. Aaron Carter. Aspinwall. Street.
Matlock: Sollitt. Yates. Featherstone. Davies. Haran. Lukic (c). Bowler (King 78). Warne. Cropper (Joynes 75). Hannah. Knowles. Substitutes: Joynes. King. Algar. Buxton.

Nantwich put on an excellent display of football at The Weaver Stadium last night against free scoring Matlock but for the umpteenth time this season, failed to defend at vital times, the cost of which was a vital point in their bid to climb away from what is an increasingly uncomfortable position deep in the relegation zone.
But in fairness to Nantwich, the need to continually change their line up due to a seemingly never ending injury crisis, is without doubt severely hampering their efforts and with left back Dave Tickle now sidelined with a spiral ankle fracture of an ankle until next spring at the earliest ‘The Dabbers’ defensive options have narrowed even further.

Matlock were first to show when a KRIS BOWLER cross from the left in the first minute was headed wide of the far post by striker DENE CROPPER followed by in form ‘Gladiators’ striker ROSS HANNAH whose shot from deep on the left was considerably off target.
Despite early flurries by the visitors Nantwich surged forward in the 5th minute and with the Matlock defence in retreat a RODNEY JACK centre from the left was headed behind for a corner by Matlock centre half GARETH DAVIES. In the 8th minute ‘Dabbers’ midfielder JAKE SEDGEMORE struck a fine looking shot from well outside the area that brought a last ditch save from Matlock ‘keeper ADAM SOLLITT at the foot of his right hand post. Meanwhile, at the other end, from an unmarked position, BOWLER’S shot failed to trouble BEN CHAPMAN in the home goal.
GOAL: Nantwich deservedly went ahead in the 11th minute through a well crafted goal by the in form MICHAEL LENNON. From a build up down the Matlock left DAVE WHITTAKER delivered a perfect cross toward the 6 yard box from where LENNON stole between two defenders to crane forward and head a peach of a ball past SOLLITT.
Two minutes later, Nantwich launched a further attack that saw emergency left back RODNEY JACK skip around three markers before unleashing a terrific ground shot that had SOLLITT fumbling at the foot of his left hand post.
GOAL: Nantwich were caught napping in the 16th minute when they allowed HANNAH to proceed deep along their right hand side before looking up and firing beyond CHAPMAN from outside the area.
Despite the setback, Nantwich pressed again and on this occasion central midfielder GLYNN BLACKHURST managed to get the better of SOLLITT but just as his close range shot looked to be en route into the net a defensive boot from right back ADAM YATES got in the way to spoon the ball out for a corner. At the other end, Matlock winger JAMES KNOWLES placed a shot on target but which was comfortably held by CHAPMAN and when play switched ends again it was a testing 25 yard free kick by midfielder JAKE SEDGEMORE that brought a good save from SOLLITT. On the half hour CROPPER delivered a close range header from a corner into the hands of CHAPMAN before CHAPMAN was called into action again, this time from Matlock left back LEE FEATHERSTONE.
Both sides continued to display attractive, attacking football, and on 36 minutes ‘Dabbers’ young striker NATHAN SOUTHERN, who is gradually beginning to adapt to this level, had an opportunity following good play from BLACKHURST and LENNON who moments later fired over the bar when well placed. When play switched ends again it was the turn of ‘Dabbers’ emergency right back ASHLEY CARTER who produced a well timed tackle to deny HANNAH a free run on goal and from a defensive position Nantwich surged forward with the closely marked, but nevertheless tenacious LENNON, winning a corner from which BLACKHURST rose in a crowded area to lift a close range header over the bar. Without doubt Nantwich had shaded the half and moments before the break a high ball from SEDGEMORE looked to be dropping over SOLLITT into the net but the referee halted play for an alleged foul on SOLLITT.
HT: Nantwich Town 1 v Matlock Town 1
When the second half resumed it was Nantwich who were out of the blocks first and in the 47th minute CARTER made a break deep along the Matlock left before crossing to a well placed WHITTAKER whose glancing header zipped across the face of goal before SOUTHERN forced SOLLITT into an under pressure clearance from a deep cross from BLACKHURST. However, back came Matlock and Nantwich were grateful to JACK for it was his brave headed clearance that denied HANNAH a golden opportunity just before the hour. Matlock achieved back to back corners that failed to trouble the Nantwich defence whilst a free kick taken by HANNAH flew high over the bar. However, persistence allowed Matlock to get closer and on 67 minutes a DAVIES shot fell less than a yard wide whilst a close range strike by HANNAH struck the side netting.
Play continued at an energetic pace with some quality football still on display and on 71 minutes LENNON took advantage of a mistake by YATES before drifting out to the right and flashing an effort across the face of goal followed by BLACKHURST who was in a great position to receive a centre from CARTER but the central midfielder failed to move quick enough leaving the Matlock defence to hack the ball up field.
GOAL: Midfielder MICHAEL CARR conceded a free kick on the left hand edge of the Nantwich area. Centre half DAVIES hovered over the ball and when the wall settled his powerful ground shot flew past the end of the wall leaving a bemused CHAPMAN with nothing other than to turn and retrieve the ball from the bottom left hand corner of the net.
GOAL: Despite going behind, Nantwich were not done for, and in the 80th minute ‘Dabbers’ central defender CHARLIE REEVES climbed above everyone in a very crowded 6 yard box to place a powerful down ward header beyond SOLLITT to set up a grandstand finish.
GOAL: Nantwich destroyed the opportunity of taking a well earned point and thus ease the pressure on their lowly league position when they allowed HANNAH to encroach deep along their left in the 87th minute, look up, pick his spot from the edge of the area, and fire a none too powerful shot across CHAPMAN into the far bottom corner of the net.
Credit to Nantwich, they refused to yield, but until such time they cease to offer gifts to the opposition it’s difficult to see how they are going to ease the pressure on a league position that witnesses them having earned a mere 7 points from 10 games to leave them just one place off the bottom of the table.

Match report written by Ashley Houghton