Nantwich Town 1
Stafford Rangers 1
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Nantwich Town 1-1 Stafford Rangers
Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division - Saturday 17th November 2012
Attendance: 474
Man of the Match: Fraser McLachlan (Nantwich)
Niall Maguire’s second-half header rescued a point for The Dabbers in feisty encounter with local rivals Stafford Rangers at the Weaver Stadium.
Maguire headed home Kyle Wilson’s knock back after Luke George had given Rangers a first-half lead.
Jimmy Quinn made two changes to the side that was heavily beaten at Frickley last weekend with Josh Lane and Chris Flynn replacing Lewis Short and the injured Caspar Hughes.
The Dabbers started brightly though and Si Everall went close to a dream start against his former club but his effort was saved by former Nantwich stopper Danny Read after Sean Cooke had put him through.
Nantwich then lost their captain Mat Bailey to a knee injury which could keep the ex- Crewe Alexandra man out for the near future.
Fabrice Kasiama and Christian Dacres both had efforts for Rangers but neither tested Dabbers keeper Jonny Brain as Nantwich dominated the first-half.
Sean Cooke’s free-kick went close before Fraser McLachlan and Lane went close to breaking the deadlock just after the half hour.
The Boro took the lead in first-half stoppage time as Karl Espley’s header was volleyed home by George from a Stafford corner.
The Dabbers come out fighting in the second-half and Everall again went close to finding an equaliser as he latched on to Brain’s long ball before forcing a save from Read and they a block from George at the second attempt.
Rangers had a great chance to seal the three points 20 minutes from time as Jimmy Turner broke down the right and cut back for Kasiama whose effort was by Brain from point blank range.
That miss proved to be costly as Wilson headed Rod McDonald’s free-kick across goal and Maguire headed home at the back post.
Everall and Wilson both shot over with great chances to win it for The Dabbers late on but a battling performance from both sides leaves Nantwich in 8th place five points behind the playoffs.
Nantwich: Brain, Carden, Flynn, Maguire, Bailey (Moss, 23), McDonald, Cooke, McLachlan (Smith, 87), Everall, Wilson, Lane (Short, 73). Subs:Campbell, Brehaut.

Match report written by www.nantwichtownfc.co.uk