Stalybridge Celtic 2
Nantwich Town 1
FA Trophy (1st Round)

Match Report

FA CARLSBERG TROPHY
FIRST ROUND
SATURDAY 11TH DECEMBER.2010

STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 2 v NANTWICH TOWN 1
PHIL MARSH.10 RODNEY JACK.54
LLOYD ELLAMS.57

STALYBRIDGE: Jan Butz. Glen Rule (c). Graeme Law. Kristian Platt. Laquan Esdaille. Jack Rea. Connor Jennings. Joel Bemba-Leta. Phil Marsh. Lloyd Ellams (Davies 71). Craig Hobson (Sherriff 90). Substitutes: Craig Davies. Dennis Sherriff. Fabrice Bembo-Leta. Ashley Garside.
NANTWICH TOWN: Ben Chapman. Ashley Carter (Aspinwall 90). Rodney Jack. Chris Flynn (c). Charlie Reeves, Michael Carr (Sedgemore 90). Kyle Blake. Glynn Blackhurst. Dave Whittaker. Michael Lennon. Lewis Short (Southern 71). Substitutes: Jake Sedgemore. Tom Parkes. Nathan Southern. Sam Aspinwall. Omar Mahmoud.
Attendance: 321
A brave performance from the ‘Dabbers’, who dominated the opening period of what was always going to be a difficult game for Nantwich given that they were up against opposition from a higher level, and who have players in full time training. But, credit where credit is due, Nantwich, whose small squad has been blighted with injuries since the first game of pre season, had come through two tough away FA Trophy ties ahead of the clash with Stalybridge and, despite bowing out at the first round stage, have done the club proud in non league football’s premier cup competition.
Despite the recent inclement weather in East Cheshire the Bower Fold pitch was in reasonable condition with Nantwich playing down the slope in the first half. Meanwhile, the home side were quickly into their stride but Nantwich quickly adjusted to the pace of the game. However, it was the home side who went ahead from basically their first real attack of note when GRAEHAM LAW lofted the ball over the ‘Dabbers’ defence and despite ‘ASH’ CARTER’S attempt to halt the run of Celtic striker PHIL MARSH, the pace of the Blue Square North Player of the Month proved too great a challenge with MARSH rounding BEN CHAPMAN and side footing home from close range to put the hosts ahead in the 10th minute.
Nantwich survived a scare in the 24th minute when a JOEL BEMBO-LETA effort cannoned off the Nantwich bar whilst at the other end, CARTER’S free kick whistled past the left hand post of JAN BUTZ goal. Moments later, BUTZ was called into action to divert a MICHAEL LENNON curling shot over the bar for a corner before GLYN BLACKHURST disappointed when, with BUTZ some way off his line, managed to drive his shot wide despite a yawning goal mouth in front of him. Meanwhile, the game ebbed and flowed but Nantwich had to be alert to their hosts who were quick to break from defensive situations and thus putting the Nantwich rearguard in particular, under pressure.
HT: STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 1 v NANTWICH TOWN 0
Nantwich attacked right from the start of the second half with LENNON again testing BUTZ early on – the Celtic ‘keeper just managing to push LENNON’S fierce drive over the bar. However, Nantwich prised the ‘Celtic’ defensive door open in the 54th minute when RODNEY JACK progressed from his left back position to around 30 yards out before unleashing a fiercely driven ground shot that zipped under the body of BUTZ to bring the tie level. Meanwhile, LENNON and BLACKHURST carved out good opportunities that, with a shade more accuracy, might well have given Nantwich the lead.
For a short period, Stalybridge appeared to have gone into slumber mode but eventually snapped out of it and proceeded to hound the Nantwich defence and it was the ‘Dabbers’ turn to crack when, in the 57th minute, CONNER JENNINGS laid off to MARSH who back heeled into the path of CRAIG HOBSON whose path to goal was blocked by an anxious Nantwich defence- HOBSON bringing JENNINGS into play again before he picked out LLOYD ELLAMS whose powerful 15 yard strike proved too hot to handle for CHAPMAN and thus putting the hosts ahead for a second time in the tie.
After that, Stalybridge went for the jugular. HOBSON spotted CHAPMAN off his line and in an attempt to cut the ball back from the bye line, fortunately for the ‘Dabbers’, the effort struck the side netting. HOBSON was again to the fore moments later when he thundered a shot on the turn narrowly wide of the target but his next effort was considerably closer in terms of being on target for it vibrated the cross bar –the shot meanwhile was from at least 30 yards out.
Late on in the tie, CHAPMAN almost gifted the home side a third goal when, from taking a free kick, he was slow in returning to his line - MARSH latching on to the ball and seeing the position of the Nantwich ‘stopper,’ let fly with an effort that narrowly avoided the target.

FT: STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 2 v NANTWICH TOWN 1

Match report written by Ashley Houghton