North Ferriby United 0
Nantwich Town 0
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

North Ferriby United 0-0 Nantwich Town
Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division – Saturday 13 April 2013
Nantwich Town defended heroically earning a draw at NPL Premier Division leaders, North Ferriby United, to extend their unbeaten run to four.
Ferriby’s profligacy against the Dabbers allowed promotion rivals, Hednesdford Town, who beat Whitby Town 4-0, to join them at the top of the league on points although the Villagers have a superior goal difference.
Saturday’s goalless stalemate saw Ferriby fly out of the traps but the away defence stood firm to the immense frustration of the home faithful and players.
And despite two one-on-ones for Ferriby striker, Ryan Kendall, poor finishing and yet more goalkeeping magic from Nantwich’s Jon Brain meant the Villagers would head home ruing what might have been.
Kendall was put through by Liam King but Jon brain saved with his left hand on 36 minutes.
The Ferriby striker had an almost identical chance on the stroke of half time but once again Brain stood up well to maintain his clean sheet.
The home side continued at a ferocious pace for the opening 15 minutes getting the ball forward as quickly as possible and this led to Ferriby’s Kendall and Gary Bradshaw shooting wide off a hard pitch on two and 12 minutes respectively.
Nantwich’s Charles Raglan and Ryan Dicker were characteristically composed though and despite the home side’s huffing and puffing the Dabbers grew in to the game and Harry Clayton blazed over on 13 minutes.
The Dabbers could have had a penalty after three minutes when targetman, Tom Bentham, was clearly shoved in the back when attacking a Josh Lane cross.
Nantwich loanee, Clayton, was apparently struck by a Kendall arm in an aerial battle on 36 minutes but the referee and his assistants saw no infringement.
Ferriby’s Adam Nicklin was forced to tip over from a Lane header following an Oliver Devenney freekick on 67 minutes.
As time ticked away Nantwich seemed to find it increasingly easy to keep the home team out despite several episodes of ‘head tennis’ between Nantwich defenders and Ferriby attackers.
The Villagers spent the last 10 minutes of the game camped in the Dabbers half, pumping cross after cross in to their opponents’ box, however, they lacked the composure to find a goal and Darren Moss’ Nantwich achieved a deserved draw to cut the gap to 13th to two points.
Nantwich: Brain, Cole, Bailey (Foster 45), Maguire, Raglan (c), Dicker, Lane (Wilson 81), Devenney, Bentham, Clayton, Hudson. Subs: Hughes, Moss, Everall
Ferriby: Nicklin, Robson, Peat, King (Bolder 80), Anderson, Foot, Clarke, Fry, Bradshaw, Kendall, Williams (Wilson 80). Subs: Ridley, Gray, Pecora

Match report written by Robert Summerscales