Nantwich Town 1
Stalybridge Celtic 0
Cheshire Senior Cup (Preliminary Round)

Match Report

Cheshire Senior Cup. Preliminary Round.
Tuesday 5th October.2010
NANTWICH TOWN 1 v STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 0
Michael Lennon. 88
Nantwich: Chapman. Flynn (c). Tickle (Aaron Carter 88). Whittaker. Reeves. Carr. Blake. Blackhurst. Aspinwall. Jack (Lennon 65). Carter. Substitutes: Sedgemore. Lennon. Aaron Carter. Foster. Street.
Stalybridge: Jackson. Fabrice Bembo-Leta. Law. Esdaille. Joel Bembo-Leta. Warburton. Anderson. Rea(c) (Garside 65). Sherriff. Gnahoua. Pyatt (Botchey 69). Substitutes: Garside. Crowther. Holt. Botchey. Hall.
Referee: Mr Richard Woodward.
Attendance: 383.
Michael Lennon came off the bench in this very entertaining and competitive Cheshire Senior Cup tie to send Nantwich through to the second round stage when they will once again face old foes Cammell Laird at The Weaver Stadium. But, credit to ‘Dabbers’ goalkeeper Ben Chapman whose second half heroic penalty save took the sting out of a lively Blue Square North Stalybridge side, many of whose players are in full time training.
And it was Nantwich who were first to show with the lively RODNEY JACK and strike partner for the night SAM ASPINWALL occupying the attention of the visitors defence, marshalled effectively by JOEL BEMBO-LETA. JACK put in a shot from the left in the 5th minute that flashed across the face of goal whilst ASPINWALL’S cut back from the bye line in the 10th minute reached the head of ASHLEY CARTER whose glancing header unfortunately drifted wide of the far post whilst at the other end, Stalybridge winger MARK PYATT’S shot from distance went straight into the hands of ‘Dabbers’ goalkeeper BEN CHAPMAN.
However, Nantwich had to remain alert throughout the whole of the tie as the visitors were quick to break from all areas of the pitch. But Nantwich to were sharp – sharper than perhaps has been seen for some time and there were chances for CHARLIE REEVES and JACK just before the half hour – REEVES shot from distance dipping over the bar whilst JACK was unlucky to see his close range shot cannon off the legs of a defender when well placed. On 39 minutes, it was Nantwich captain CHRIS FLYNN who showed some silky skills when he dazzled the visitors defence before pulling the ball square just inside the box and letting rip with a shot that unfortunately went straight through to waiting ‘Celtic’ goalkeeper DANIEL JACKSON. Meanwhile, CARTER had a great chance just before the break with a one on one with JACKSON but placed his close range effort wide whilst a minute before half time FLYNN’S glancing header was spectacularly turned away by JACKSON.
HT: NANTWICH TOWN 0 v STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 0
Stalybridge carved out an opportunity in the 48th minute but thanks’ to the intervention of ‘Dabbers’ centre half DAVE WHITTAKER ‘Celtic’ striker DENNIS SHERRIFF’S dangerous looking shot from the edge of the area was deflected away from goal whilst at the other end, ASPINWALL couldn’t quite make the angle after beating left back GRAEME LAW and as a result his powerful shot ended up striking an advertising hoarding. On 55 minutes Nantwich midfielder KYLE BLAKE went close from an ASPINWALL centre – REEVES then went close with a header from inside the 6 yard box followed by GLYNN BLACKHURST, who was wrong footed 5 yards out after a great ball from the lively ASPINWALL and then REEVES again who hit a first time effort from a corner straight into a crowded goalmouth but despite his powerful effort finding its way through a sea of legs, it was hacked off the line. By now Nantwich were laying siege to the visitors goal and in the 68th minute WHITTAKER was unfortunate to see his overhead kick from inside the area turned away by the busy JACKSON and then two minutes later a flick on by WHITTAKER from a FLYNN free kick again turned away by the athletic Stalybridge ‘keeper followed by a DAVE TICKLE centre that was cleared off the line by a defence that had been in retreat a little too often for their comfort.
But for all their endeavours Nantwich had yet to make that all important breakthrough and then in the 82nd minute the tie looked as though it might be going in favour of the visitors when CHAPMAN brought an attacker down just inside the area and despite CHAPMAN claiming to have got the ball before the man, the referee pointed to the spot. However, CHAPMAN read LAWS 82nd minute powerful low penalty kick to perfection diving full length across his line to rapturous applause from the majority of supporters who for the first occasion for some time had been in full voice, mainly from the Dovey’s stand on the far side of the stadium. As the remaining minutes ticked away the tie looked to be heading for extra time, that was until super sub MICHAEL LENNON took advantage of a quick free kick whilst Stalybridge were still arguing with the referee over the decision – LENNON striking the ball to perfection before driving it into the bottom left hand corner of the net in the 88th minute and despite over five minutes of added time Nantwich emerged deserved winners. There was however another winner on the night –the Weaver Stadium lights –not a flicker all night whilst the recently installed replacement generator never missed a beat, much to everyone’s relief!
FT: NANTWICH TOWN 1 v STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 0
Man of the Match: Charlie Reeves. Nantwich Town.

Match report written by Ashley Houghton