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

Match Report

EVO-STIK FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
Saturday 1st January.2011

NORTHWICH VICTORIA 1 v NANTWICH TOWN 1
Stuart Wellstead.83 Lewis Short.4
NORTHWICH: Spencer (c). Law. Thompson. Woods. Collins. Sorvel. Riley. Summerskill. Fowler. Ryan. Peers. Substitutes: McAliskey. McArdle. Byron. Wellstead. Fitzpatrick.
NANTWICH: Chapman. Ashley Carter. Jack. Flynn (c). Reeves. Sedgemore. Blake. Blackhurst. Whittaker. Lennon. Short. Substitutes: Aspinwall. Mahmoud. Tinson. Street. Aaron Carter.
Attendance: 587
Referee: Mr J.P Dowd.
Nantwich began 2011 with a well deserved point in a hard fought and spirited display against Northwich at a very wet and cold Victoria Stadium on New Year’s Day. The ‘Dabbers’ had been without a league game since the 3-2 home win over Burscough back on the 16th of November with the weekend game against Northwich representing only their 16th league game of the season to date. And with weather conditions playing havoc with fixtures at the tail end of 2010 there was a certain amount of irony in that the last time Nantwich saw action of any kind was during the 5-2 Cheshire Senior Cup defeat at the Victoria Stadium on the 14th of December.
Nantwich were first to show with a 2nd minute burst into the Northwich area and in a promising looking move winger LEWIS SHORT collected a pass from MICHAEL LENNON on the Northwich left but just as he attempted to turn beyond right back GRAEME LAW SHORT lost possession a mere 12 yards from goal. Meanwhile, at the other end, CHARLIE REEVES headed WAYNE RILEY’S cross from under the bar whilst a minute later Nantwich silenced the home support when, from a deft LENNON pass, again from the left, SHORT took advantage of space around him to beat JAMES SPENCER from close range with his first goal for the club since arriving on loan from Crewe Alexandra.
Northwich were quick to respond and in a move along the Nantwich left ‘Vics’ striker ANDY FOWLER threatened with a vicious shot from the edge of the area that whistled across the face of goal before going out for a goal kick. The mobility of the hosts was beginning to give Nantwich somewhat of a headache and were having to remain on full alert, particularly in defence, marshalled by captain CHRIS FLYNN. However, Nantwich were clearly in no mood to be bossed by their hosts and in the 8th minute won back to back corners during which ‘Dabbers’ midfielder GLYNN BLACKHURST only just failed to beat SPENCER to a high ball on the edge of the 6 yard box. Meanwhile, the game continued to change ends during which, the most notable effort was the pile driver from distance delivered by ‘Vics’ winger MARK PEERS but credit to Nantwich custodian BEN CHAPMAN whose razor sharp action allowed him to tip the ball over the bar. Just before the quarter hour FOWLER again broke clear from the left to fire across the face of goal whilst moment’s later play was suspended when SHORT pulled up with a foot injury. SHORT returned to action following treatment and on 29 minutes was unlucky not to notch a second goal when his shot on the turn from a LENNON pass was held on the line by SPENCER. For the hosts, PEERS sent in a dipping shot from distance that flicked off the top of the bar and then moments later PEERS headed behind from a DAVE THOMPSON pass whilst FOWLER again brought groans from the home fans when he drove his shot high over the bar. Northwich continued to press and in the 44th minute FLYNN elected to head behind at the expense of a corner from which Northwich midfielder BRIAN SUMMERSKILL blazed over the bar after CHAPMAN had initially punched clear, ‘Vics’ defender STEVE WOODS free kick earned the hosts a further corner from which Nantwich have to thank the evergreen RODNEY JACK who hacked the ball off the line after CHAPMAN missed the ball in an attempt to block it.

HT: NORTHWICH VICTORIA 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 1
Nantwich started the second half well and in the 48th minute BLACKHURST broke free from the halfway line and in a mazy run down the Northwich left narrowly failed to go beyond THOMPSON after he squeezed the ‘Dabbers’ midfielder enough to rob him of the ball just outside the area. Meanwhile, at the other end, JACK tidied up at the back after PEERS had sent in another long ball whilst in the 58th minute JACK tracked SUMMERSKILL sufficiently without fouling him to prevent the midfielder placing his close range effort on target. On the hour, Nantwich had opportunities through midfielder KYLE BLAKE but his shot, following a FLYNN pass, finished off target whilst SHORT, whose pace appeared to be affected by the earlier foot injury, was robbed by LAW just as he was about to turn in on goal from the bye line. A minute later, LENNON’S attempt at flicking the ball into the path of BLAKE failed despite BLAKE being in a goal threatening position whilst on 63 minutes JAKE SEDGEMORE’S free kick toward the left of SPENCER’S goal was turned behind for a corner with BLAKE again spurning a goal scoring opportunity when he shot into the hands of SPENCER in the 68th minute. On 72 minutes, BLACKHURST produced a dipping shot from outside the area that dipped a yard over the bar.
But, despite these promising flurries by Nantwich the home side, whose crisp passing had caught the ‘Dabbers’ out several occasions, always looked threatening and with the introduction, in particular that of STUART WELLSTEAD for PEERS in the 73rd minute, the threat grew larger. The lofty JOHN McALISKEY had earlier replaced the miss hitting FOWLER but he too spurned a good opportunity in the 78th minute when shooting wide from 15 yards. Nantwich made a change at the front end with SAM ASPINWALL replacing the hard working, but mainly ineffective DAVE WHITTAKER at a time when the ‘Dabbers’ were under pressure in all areas of the pitch but, credit to Nantwich, they continued to soak up what was thrown at them but succumbed in the 82 minute when a clearance fell to WELLSTEAD just outside the area, the substitute striker letting fly with an opportunistic shot that clipped the underside of the bar before dropping into the back of the net to bring the hosts level. Four minutes from normal time, the injured SHORT hobbled off to be replaced by OMAR MAHMOUD, Northwich continued to lay siege to the Nantwich goal but, despite four minutes of added time, they failed to break the resolve of a very determined, albeit under pressure, Nantwich side.
FT: NORTHWICH VICTORIA 1 v NANTWICH TOWN 1

Match report written by Ashley Houghton