Ashton United 2
Nantwich Town 1
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Ashton United 2 – 1 Nantwich Town
NPL Premier Division – Bank Holiday Monday 27th August 2012
The Dabbers fell to their first defeat of the EvoStik Northern Premier Division campaign as they went down to a late Tom Baker goal at Ashton United.
Baker, who had earlier given The Robins the lead before Sean Cooke equalised for Nantwich, ran clear as Jimmy Quinn’s men searched for a winner having held a man advantage after Craig Robinson’s 67th minute red card.
The Nantwich boss made two changes to the side that had beat Ilkeston on Saturday with JJ Bailey and Niall Maguire replacing Matt Lowe and Mark Beesley.
The Dabbers started brightly and went close to breaking the deadlock on 15 minutes when Cooke, who was a threat throughout, beat two United defenders before forcing a save from Terry Smith in the Ashton goal.
Nantwich’s best chance of the half fell to Kyle Wilson as he latched onto Maguire’s pass and rounded Smith but saw his shot cleared off the line by Robinson.
Missed chances proved costly for Quinn’s men though as Baker’s innocuous shot from 25 yards took a wicked bounce and deceived Jonny Brain in The Dabbers goal to give the hosts the lead.
Nantwich came out in the second-half much brighter as Caspar Hughes smashed a right-footed effort over and Maguire, who impressed on his first start of the season, went close from long range.
The Dabbers equalised on the hour mark as miscommunication between Smith and Ashton captain Chris Lynch, was pounced upon by Cooke who set Wilson through and then pounced on the rebound when the former- Bangor City man’s shot was saved.
Nantwich looked to gain momentum from the equaliser and were handed a further advantage when Robinson was given a straight red card for a late challenge on Cooke with 25 minutes remaining.
Mat Bailey went close to gaining the lead for The Dabbers but twice was thwarted by Smith in the United goal.
The killer blow was dealt three minutes from time as Nantwich committed men forward for a set piece and were broke on the counter by substitute Aaron Burns who then set the ball to Baker who hammered home

Match report written by Ashley Houghton