Nantwich Town 2
Salford City 1
FA Trophy (1st Round Qualifying)

Match Report

More than 550 fans watched the Dabbers beat Salford 2-1 with sublime goals from Elliot Osbourne and Steve Jones.

Salford – now run by former Manchester United stars the Neville brothers – made nine changes to their side with an eye on their televised FA Cup game against Notts County.

But the visitors started strongly and Joseph Mwasile and Chris Sharp went close, Nantwich keeper Krystian Burznyski keeping them out.

They opened the scoring on four minutes when a corner was whipped into the near post and Stephen Howson headed home.

Nantwich roared back with Josh Hancock going close on eight minutes when he was able to head goalwards from a Steve Jones cross, well saved by keeper Craig Dootson.

He also thwarted Dabbers captain Sam Hall and Osbourne as Nantwich began to take control of the game.

And two more minutes later they equalised with goal number 50 for the season.

Osbourne cut inside and curled a wonder shot past Dootson into the far corner.

Salford could have retaken the lead a minute later when Mwasile broke forward and hit a shot, which clipped the post and bounced clear.

Jon Moran then crashed a header against the Salford bar on 22 minutes from a Jones corner.

Mat Bailey went close for Nantwich when his cross toward goal almost ended up in the back of the net, skimming past Dootson’s post.

Matty Kosylo went close just before half-time, and then the hosts did breakthrough.

A clearance by Burzynski landed to Steve Jones, who skipped inside from the right before unleashing a powerful drive past Dootson.

The former Northern Ireland international thought he’d added a third when he rounded Dootson and tappedinto an empty net, but the flag was raised for offside.

At half time Salford brought on Ritchie Allen, the former AFC Fylde and Fleetwood man.

Osbourne could have made it three just after half time when he collected the ball out wide and shot, the ball skimming over the bar.

Jones was withdrawn for Liam Shotton on the hour, and the substitute played through the centre causing more problems for Salford’s backline.

Kosylo, who had returned from injury, could have made the game safe with 10 minutes to go when he cut in from the left and hit an effort which went over the bar.

He was replaced with six minutes remaining for Josh Gordon to give the Dabbers fresh legs on the wing.

Salford had one more chance in the final minutes, a free kick 10 yards in from the byline which was well cleared by Bailey.

Shotton burst clear from that and the former Leek Town man tried to steer it in the near post, only to see it hit the upright and bounce out.

Nantwich Town: Burnzyski, White, Thronton, Moran, Bailey, Osbourne, Kosylo, Hall (C), Hancock, Bell and Jones. Subs: Short, Shotton (on for Jones), C,Smith (on for Hancock),T.Smith and Gordon (on for Kosylo)

Match report written by Richard Scott (www.nantwichtownfc.co.uk)