Nantwich Town 0
Ashton United 2
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

EVO-STIK FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
Friday 11th March.2011

NANTWICH TOWN 0 v ASHTON UNITED 2
Jonathan Bathurst.51
Aaron Burns.61
NANTWICH TOWN: Chapman. Reeves (c). Foster (Jack 72). Blackhurst. McDonald (Blake 82). Whittaker. Carter. Hughes. Connerton. Lennon. Flynn (Carr 21). Substitutes: Mahmoud. Carr. Blake. Jack. Haughton.
ASHTON UNITED: Terry Smith. Havern. Dawson. Murphy. Stephen Rose. Robinson (c). Crowther. Bennett (Kelly 74). Burns. Bathurst (Piana 80) .Ben Smith (Madeley 82). Substitutes: Madeley. Kelly. Piana. Josh Rose. O’Neill.
Referee: Mr D.S Strain.
Attendance: 316.
Seven straight defeats now for the embattled ‘Dabbers’ – their worst run of form for six years – with a disappointing defeat and second half performance that can hardly have pleased caretaker boss Jimmy Quinn.
In the first half, Nantwich restricted the visitors to but a single shot on target and had just one of the numerous chances that the ‘Dabbers’ created in the opening period been converted, then Ashton could have had no complaints if they were trailing at the break.
Nantwich were first to show, with the lively GLYN BLACKHURST winning a second minute corner before following up moments later with a glancing header from a follow up corner that unfortunately fell wide of the right hand post. Meanwhile, at the other end, Ashton winger BEN SMITH wasted an opportunity when his effort from the edge of the area failed to trouble ‘Dabbers’ custodian BEN CHAPMAN.
On loan Crewe Alexandra midfielder CASPAR HUGHES has impressed since his arrival and in the 5th minute held off a challenge to bring Nantwich winger ASHLEY CARTER into play down the Ashton left – CARTER then squaring the ball from deep into the path of on loan Crewe striker JORDAN CONNERTON who disappointed when failing to get a decent purchase on the ball and finishing with a scuffed effort that skewed wide of the left hand post. HUGHES was instrumental in setting up a forward move in the 12th minute that led to winger CHRIS FLYNN providing CONNERTON with a cross from the Ashton right but despite rising above an under pressure Ashton defence, the follow up header crept inches over the bar.
Ashton were seeing little of the ball, leaving front pairing of AARON BURNS and JONATHAN BATHHURST with little pickings. A FLYNN strike flew off the body of Ashton custodian TERRY SMITH for a further Nantwich corner - Nantwich captain CHARLIE REEVES homed in on the flag kick to blast a short range effort that deflected for yet another corner-BLACKHURST then forced an under siege Ashton to concede a third corner before play was held up in the 21st minute when FLYNN was forced to retire with a recurrent hamstring injury to be replaced by MICHAEL CARR. For the visitors, a RYAN CROWTHER strike was repelled by REEVES followed by a moment of indecisive Nantwich defending that allowed the visitors the luxury of a corner.
Nantwich regrouped in the latter stages of the opening period. A CARR effort cannoned off an Ashton defender for yet another corner-a MICHAEL LENNON volley from deep along the Ashton right zipped a yard wide of the far post-CARR was just off target following some desperate Ashton defending- CONNERTON won a 7th Nantwich corner 4 minutes from the break whilst in a rare moment for the visitors, a BURNS on target strike was comfortably held by CHAPMAN.
HT: NANTWICH TOWN 0 v ASHTON UNITED 0
Ashton came out much stronger in the second half and, in a lack-lustre display, the Dabbers gifted them the points. BATHURST put the visitors ahead in the 51st minute thanks to a bout of attention deficit syndrome by the Nantwich rearguard followed by the unmarked BURNS in the 61st minute whose shot on the turn from 12 yards flew into the roof of the net off the palms of CHAPMANS hands.
Nantwich were hit with a second injury late in the game when on loan Oldham Athletic defender ROD McDONALD limped out with a leg injury (the season long hoodoo continues to inflict its misery). If there was one bright spot in the second half it came from the evergreen RODNEY JACK. He continues to raise applause from the Nantwich faithful by acting as both playmaker and defender. The 36 year old replaced the hard working, but tiring young on loan Stoke City defender ZAC FOSTER on 72 minutes. Sadly, the Dabbers were unable to nick a goal that could have seen them get back in the game and the Robins flew back to Ashton, three points the better.

Match report written by Ashley Houghton