Nantwich Town 1
Retford United 0
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

EVO-STIK FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Premier Division
Saturday 12th February

NANTWICH TOWN 1 v RETFORD UNITED 0
Michael Lennon.41

NANTWICH: Allcock. Sedgemore (c). Carter. Whittaker. Reeves. Carr. Blake. Blackhurst (Tinson 22). Connerton (Crane 22). Lennon. Short. Substitutes: Mahmoud. Foster. Crane. Tinson. Street.
RETFORD: Herriott. Austin. White. Blake. Ellis (c). Foulds. Brammer. Knapper. Blythen (Boggilo 75)). Turner (Booth 66). Hindley. Substitutes: Boggilo. Booth.
Referee: Mr J.Hull. Star Man. Lewis Short. Nantwich Town.
Attendance: 358
Nantwich bossed this game for the majority of the match but, credit to lowly Retford, who worked hard throughout the match before succumbing to the ‘magic’ of leading scorer MICHAEL LENNON four minutes before the break.
Retford were first to show, when a cross from fellow striker MICHAEL BLYTHEN in the first minute fell to JORDAN TURNER on the opposite flank but TURNER wasted the opportunity with Nantwich exposed. However, Nantwich quickly got into their stride and proceeded to peg the visitors back – albeit without capitalising on their possession. From the goal kick, the ‘Dabbers’ surged forward but, just as KYLE BLAKE was about to turn into the area, he lost possession thus allowing Retford to move forward and bring TURNER into play. Retford were then awarded a free kick 5 yards outside the area and it was thanks’ to ‘never say die’ central defender CHARLIE REEVES who rose in the 6 yard box to head RYAN HINDLEY’S dangerous looking dead ball kick clear. Meanwhile, at the other end, LEWIS SHORT played a well timed pass towards LENNON, who was hovering on the left hand edge of the area but, just as he was about to home in on the ball, a Retford defender hooked the ball from ‘LENNY’S’ path. Play then switched to the opposite flank from where a well aimed JAKE SEDGEMORE free kick found an unmarked JORDAN CONNERTON 10 yards out. However, the ball failed to drop low enough to reach CONNERTON’S feet – instead, it flicked off his body, straight into the arms of HERRIOTT.
GLYN BLACKHURST, however, did find the ball at his feet, a mere 12 yards from goal but, despite making space to the side of his marker, and wrapping his right boot around the ball, ‘BLACKY’ unfortunately got it all wrong leaving HERRIOTT the simple task of scooping safely into his grasp. At the other end, ‘Dabbers’ custodian ADAM ALLCOCK made a mess of a clearance. Fortunately, the ball fell kindly to SEDGEMORE, and not to BLYTHEN who was hovering in unmarked territory.
The ‘Dabbers’ thought they had deservedly gone ahead in the 11th minute but their celebrations were short lived after CONNERTON’S well judged downward close range header beyond HERRIOTT was adjudged to be have been from an offside position.
Moments later, GLYN BLACKHURST placed a diving header from similar distance into the arms of ‘Badgers’ goalkeeper LUKE HERRIOTT whilst at the other end, BLYTHEN and RYAN HINDLEY combined before HINDLEY chested the ball behind for a goal kick.
In the 16th minute, the continuous Nantwich injury hoodoo struck yet again. The midfield collision between CONNERTON and BLACKHURST was horrible to say the least. Both players required hospital treatment with CONNERTON in particular requiring heavy bandaging to stem the flow of blood from above, and below his right eye. Play eventually resumed with DAVE WHITTAKER going up front to partner LENNON–joint player/manager DARREN TINSON replaced WHITTAKER in defence whilst new signing JONATHAN CRANE replaced BLACKHURST. For a time, this horrible incident had the effect of knocking Nantwich out of their stride.
SHORT has shown great improvement of late, and was unfortunate to witness his low shot from distance finish a couple of yards wide of the target, at a point when his fellow players were beginning to regain composure. LENNON then followed with a close range effort, courtesy of an initial SEDGEMORE free kick, ‘LENNY’S’ shot whistling inches past HERRIOTT’S left hand post. KYLE BLAKE’S 20th minute hanging cross narrowly failed to find WHITTAKER after the busy HERRIOTT placed his body in the path of the ball in the nick of time. At the other end, ALLCOCK did well to hold Retford midfielder STEVE BRAMMER’S shot on his line whilst at the other end, SHORT was unlucky to see his angled shot drift on to the top of the net, with the visitors defence exposed.
On the half hour, BLAKE made space to put in a shot from the edge of the area that was blocked by HERRIOTT closely followed by LENNON, whose effort from similar distance, was foiled by the visitors ‘keeper. LENNON continued to graft away and five minutes before the break was disappointed to witness his well judged strike cannon off a defender. However, a minute later, the ‘Dabbers’ leading scorer conjured up a bit of ‘Lenny’ magic to deservedly put Nantwich ahead. Twisting and turning, he mesmerised the Retford defence before guiding the ball around the last defender and beyond HERRIOTT into the near bottom corner of the net. A truly magical goal!
HT: Nantwich Town 1 v Retford United 0
On 47 minutes, TINSON was desperately unlucky to see his close range header fall the wrong side of the near post, whilst at the other end, CRANE lost possession to BLYTHEN but despite an inch perfect cross to the far post, no Retford player was on hand to capitalise.
ASHLEY CARTER came to the rescue of Nantwich in the 76th minute when his last ditch intervention denied Retford substitute MATT BOOTH an opportunity. The runs of man of the match LEWIS SHORT had caused the visitors problems all afternoon and in the 83rd minute a blistering shot from the on loan Crewe midfielder flew off HERRIOTT for a corner. HERRIOTT had been by far the busiest ‘keeper throughout the afternoon but he would have had no chance with Nantwich defender CHARLIE REEVES flying header in the dying moments had the ball not zipped over the angle of post and bar. SHORT was then unlucky to see his fiercely struck angled shot fly off the opposite angle of post and bar.
Nantwich finished very strongly, but with no end in sight to an excruciating injury list, joint managers KEVIN STREET and DARREN TINSON are left wondering if they will ever enjoy the luxury of fielding the same line up, twice in succession at all this season.
FT: Nantwich Town 1 v Retford United 0
CONNERTON and BLACKHURST update: CONNERTON was the worst affected, with damage to above, and below his right eye. The incident badly shook both players, in particular CONNERTON, who had difficulty for a time in recognizing his surroundings. Both players received treatment at Leighton Hospital – CONNERTON having several stitches inserted above the eye, before eventually locating to his parents’ home in Lancaster. Predictably, he will require time to complete his recovery. Meanwhile, ‘BLACKY’, the least affected, will be absent for Tuesday’s (15th February) visit to Marine whilst Saturday’s (19th February) away match at Matlock Town, remains a target for his return.

Match report written by Ashley Houghton