Matlock Town 0
Nantwich Town 3
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Goals from Harry Clayton and a double from David Forbes secured three points for Nantwich Town as they beat Matlock 3-0 at the DCJ Group Insurance Arena.

Clayton opened the scoring on seven minutes as he was played through by Troy Bourne and popped it through a defender’s legs before firing home into the bottom corner.

Forbes doubled Nantwich’s lead five minutes after the interval as Matt Bell’s free-kick missed the diving head of Joel Stair, falling to Forbes to head into an open goal.

And he finished the job with eight minutes to go as Steve Jones hit one on the turn which hit the post, and Forbes was there to tap home.

Nantwich had the first clear-cut chance of the afternoon on six minutes, Joe Mwasile hit one low towards goal, but Barnes’ parry was only as far as Forbes who almost opened the scoring.

They didn’t have long to wait for their next chance as Matt Bell found space in the middle, before playing in Bourne on the right. Clayton’s run was excellent, and Bourne found him in plenty of space. Clayton (pictured) put the ball through the defender’s legs, before firing home past Barnes’ outstretched right hand.

Nantwich dominated and their second chance came five minutes later as Bourne drove a low cross into the box looking for Forbes, who was just too late.

On 15 minutes, Nantwich had another chance as Forbes hunted down a lone defender in the back, and almost got away from his man.

The first real chance for the hosts came on 25 minutes as Kieron Wallace struck a first time volley that dipped over the bar.

The hosts’ second clear chance came with 10 minutes to go to the interval.

Cribley weaved his way through the Dabbers defence, but took a touch too many and Jaaskelainen was able to dive on the ball.

Casper Hughes flicked the ball over the head of a midfielder, and found Forbes behind the defence. However, Forbes’ shot hit the side netting.

Hughes had a great game in central midfield, and almost got on the scoresheet with three minutes to go in the first half. The ball dropped to him, and he ripped one towards goal but a deflection saw it bounce out for a corner.

Matlock applied early pressure in the second period, but Nantwich doubled their lead early in the second half.

A free-kick on the left-hand side was whipped into the box towards Stair, who missed the ball on the diving effort. Yet Forbes was there at the back stick to head home into an open goal.

A minute later, Toby Mullarkey and Callum Lloyd went into a challenge, Lloyd with a studs-up tackle that went into the lower leg of Mullarkey. He was brought off to have stitches, while Lloyd was shown a red card almost instantly by the referee. Jamie Morgan replaced the injured Mullarkey.

After 64 minutes, Nathan Cotterell and Mwasile linked up well on the right-hand side, before Mwasile nailed a low cross towards Clayton.

Unfortunately, Clayton was caught in possession of the ball amid oncoming traffic in the box and wasn’t able to get the shot away.

The hosts, trying to cut into Nantwich’s two-goal lead, made a double substitution as Rhys Sharpe and Shaun Harrad were replaced by fresh legs in Noel Burdett and Nathan Whitehead.

With 15 minutes to go, Nantwich made a change as Cotterell came off for Jones.

Two minutes later, there was another goalmouth scramble as Nantwich found space on the left, Wildin drove a low cross towards Jones, but a defender almost put it into his own net.

With ten minutes left, Nantwich made their final change as Clayton McDonald came on for Mwasile.

On 82 minutes, Jones found space in front of goal, hit a low shot which ricocheted off the post but only as far as Forbes, who netted his second with no goalkeeper in sight.

Matlock weren’t able to create any chances, and Nantwich headed back to South Cheshire with a return to winning ways in the league.

Nantwich: Jaaskelainen, Bourne, Wildin, Stair, Mullarkey (Morgan 51?), Bell (C), Mwasile (McDonald 79?), Hughes, Clayton, Forbes, Cotterell (S. Jones 75?). Subs not used: Burzynski, Webster

Match report written by Ryan Batty (www.nantwichtownfc.co.uk)