Nantwich Town 3
Frickley Athletic 2
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Nantwich Town 3-2 Frickley Athletic
Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division – Saturday 20th April 2013
An ice-cool late penalty from Nantwich Town substitute, Joe Guest, deservedly ensured his team would make it four wins out of five despite a late flourish from plucky Frickley Athletic.
Guest converted a penalty he won when Frickley’s towering centre back, Patrece Liburd, had no option but to trip him as he weaved his way towards Jamie Green’s goal on 86 minutes.
The foul earned Liburd a second yellow and a sending off.
The spot-kick goal brought great relief to the Dabbers’ faithful who had two minutes earlier seen Frickley’s determined Jake Picton make it two goals apiece on 84 minutes.
Picton capitalised on a weak Ryan Dicker header meant for goalkeeper, Jon Brain, and finished coolly over the in-form stopper.
Nantwich made a confident start despite tough tackles from Frickley and Caspar Hughes played a calm pass to Harry Clayton who surged past Jason Yates to fire across Green and open the scoring on four minutes.
It was a brilliantly taken goal and the buoyant crowd at the Weaver Stadium showed their delight.
The joy of the home fans was short lived though and Frickley’s Jamie Wootton glanced a header beyond Nantwich’s Brain from a Yates’ freekick on 6 minutes.
It was Niall Maguire’s apparent push in the back of Picton which led to the freekick.
Following their equaliser, The Blues were on top for a 20 minute period as Nantwich looked shocked they lost their lead so quickly.
It was not long though before the home side remembered their passing abilities and started to dominate possession again.
On 26 minutes Charles Raglan hit home on the Frickley back post from a PJ Hudson corner the away defence could not clear.
Nantwich’s defence looked comfortable until half time and the home side’s narrow lead seemed strong.
In the second half Frickley’s strong centre forward, Gavin Allott, gave the Nantwich defence, who looked frail after a recent record of only two goals conceded in four games, the runaround, and put Chris Howarth through on goal but his shot was saved by Brain on 80 minutes.
Nantwich seemed satisfied to maintain their lead in the second half however Picton’s late goal meant the Dabbers had to push again for a winner.
Substitute, Guest, managed to create and score the necessary third goal from the penalty spot and Nantwich could have scored a fourth in added time as Kyle Wilson hit the bar with Clayton heading in only to be adjudged offside.
The win means the Dabbers could go in to 12th place in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League if they win their game in hand over Ilkeston FC and Whitby Town.
Nantwich: Jon Brain; Aaron Cole, Chris Bailey, Charles Raglan (c), Ryan Dicker; Caspar Hughes (Joe Guest 82), Niall Maguire, Oliver Devenney, Harry Clayton, PJ Hudson (Josh Lane 77); Tom Bentham (Kyle Wilson 54). Subs: Darren Moss, Zak Foster.
Frickley: Jamie Green; Terry Barwick, Jason Yates, Joe Wilcox, Patrece Liburd; Joe Wilcox, Luke Hinsley (Chris Wood 70), Matty Bloor (c), Jake Picton; Jamie Wootton (Chris Howarth 70), Gavin Allott. Subs: Joe Davies, Joseph Kenny, Zack Levers (GK)

Match report written by Robert Summerscales