Stocksbridge Park Steels 5
Nantwich Town 2
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Stocksbridge Park Steels 5-2 Nantwich Town
Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division – Tuesday 27th April 2013
Despite a run-out from messiah-like Caretaker Player/ Manager Darren Moss Nantwich were powerless to resist an aerial barrage from lowly Stocksbridge led by towering goal-hero Danny South.
South’s heading ability proved too hot to handle for a below-par away defence as the hosts scored four of their five goal haul in goalkeeper, Jon Brain’s, 6-yard box to end the visitor’s unbeaten run.
The in-form Dabbers started confidently and Joe Guest and Harry Clayton nearly scored from long range on 4 and 9 minutes respectively.
Striker Clayton scored his fourth in five on 17 minutes to make it 0-1 with a close-range header when Guest’s freekick was headed back to goal by Ryan Dicker.
Nantwich’s early play was well worth the goal as they dominated possession and the Steels were ran rings around.
The old saying, ‘You’re most vulnerable when you’ve just scored’, rung true again for Nantwich as Stocksbridge centre back, Nick Swirad, headed an equaliser from a Chris Bettney corner on 24 minutes.
The effort brought home fans out of the woodwork and gave their team belief to push up and pressure Niall Maguire and Oliver Devenney in Nantwich’s midfield.
Soon after the Steels’ first goal home captain Richard Haigh headed against the bar and over on 28 minutes.
It was a precursor to Stocksbridge’s second as towering number nine, South, headed home from a long throw, which should have been cleared, in the 31st.
The Dabbers failed to cope with South’s aerial brilliance who was totally dominant with his head.
The Steels’ powerful play was a mirage though created by their visitor’s indecision in defence and their acceptance to match the Steels’ style, rashly lumping balls forward, a game the hosts were better at.
Maguire landed hands-first on the ball on 33 minutes however the Dabbers escaped punishment.
Right back, Aaron Cole, then seemed to bring down South in the Nantwich penalty area but no penalty was given to the outrage of the home faithful.
In the second half South helped his side extend their lead nodding on for Tommy Agus to tap in at Brain’s back post on 47 minutes.
On 50 minutes, Harry Clayton showed his qualities as he burst past a defender and shot, to force a full-stretch-save out of the Steels’ Ben Scott.
Just as it looked like the Dabbers could find a way back an unchallenged Nicky Darker finished with aplomb from the edge of the area making it 4-1 on 61 minutes.
Only five minutes later captain Haigh capitalised on the Dabbers’ inability to clear a corner poking in to make it 5-1.
The skipper was delighted celebrating with a less than gymnastic forward roll.
At this point, Nantwich’s hardcore fans sung, ‘We’re gonna beat you 6-5’ and with a bit more luck and composure in front of goal they might have done.
Nantwich’s Wilson made it 5-2 with a tap in on 76 minutes after Scott parried a Chris Bailey piledriver.
A minute after Wilson went through one-on-one but Scott stood up well to save.
On 83 minutes Tom Bentham was free on goal but his tame effort was easily saved.
In added time a Nantwich corner led to Stocksbridge miraculously blocking twice on the line and somehow smuggling the ball clear.
It was a busy last ten minutes for the Steels but at full time they were clear and deserved winners.
Nantwich: Brain, Cole, Bailey, Devenney, Raglan (c) (Moss 56), Dicker, Hudson, Maguire. Wilson, Clayton (Lane 66), Guest (Bentham 51). Subs: Hughes, Foster.
Stocksbridge: Scott, Davis, Agus, Swirad, Haigh (c), Darker, Bettney (Senior 75), Knowles, South (Denton 75), Forbes, Coy. Subs: Bowden-Lovell, Callery, Joynes

Match report written by Robert Summerscales