Nantwich Town 2
Redditch United 1
FA Trophy (1st Round Qualifying)

Match Report

Nantwich Town 2 –1 Redditch United
29th September 2012
FA Trophy First Qualifying Round
Attendance: 247
Man of the Match: Christian Smith (Nantwich)
Entertainment Rating: ****
Nantwich Town ensured their safe passage to the FA Trophy First Round Proper with a 2-1 victory over Redditch United at the Weaver Stadium.
Christian Smith’s opener and an Aaron Stringfellow own goal gave The Dabbers a comfortable margin before William Richards pulled one back for United.
Dabbers boss, Jimmy Quinn, made one change to the side that won at Rushall Olympic last Saturday with Kyle Wilson replacing Will Jones.
Nantwich were thoroughly dominant throughout the early stages and went close to opening on 7 minutes when Sean Cooke latched on to Smith’s cross and forced a sharp save from James Wren.
Caspar Hughes and Wilson went close before Bailey missed a golden opportunity to give The Dabbers the lead, Cooke took a Nantwich free-kick quickly and Bailey beat the offside trap but smashed a half volley over from eight yards.
The opener came on 21 minutes when the Smith powered his way through the Redditch defence and chipped elegantly over Wren.
The visitors never really got into the game and the closest they came in the first half was Mark Danks’ 25 yard strike which went just wide.
The lead was doubled on the hour mark as Rod McDonald’s flick on from Sean Cooke’s free-kick was headed over the line by Stringfellow.
Redditch gave Nantwich a late scare when Richards prodded home after a goalmouth scramble but Jimmy Quinn’s men held firm and advance to the opening round of the FA Trophy.

Match report written by Ashley Houghton