Nantwich Town 1
Coalville Town 3
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Nantwich Town succumbed to a Coalville fightback as ten-man Dabbers slumped to 3-1 home defeat on a cold afternoon at the Weaver Stadium, writes Ryan Batty.

Joel Stair opened the scoring in the 13th minute (pictured) with a close range header from Matt Bell’s corner.

But Coalville equalised through Cleveland Taylor, and goals either side of half-time from Jermaine Hollis and Daniel Creaney completed The Ravens’ victory.

Courtney Wildin and Joel Stair returned to the Nantwich side in defence, while Matt Bell came back for David Forbes, who started on the bench.

Nantwich started brightly, controlling the proceedings. In the first five minutes, a ball over the top of the defence almost found Joe Mwasile, but Coalville keeper Matt Coton reached it first.

The Dabbers were awarded a corner on 13 minutes, and Matt Bell swung the ball into the box towards Stair. The former Hanley defender rose to head past Coton to give Nantwich the lead.

Two minutes later, the lead could have been doubled as veteran forward Steve Jones was played through on the right-hand side. A curled shot on the turn by Jones ricocheted off the far post.

Nantwich outplayed their visitors in the first 20 minutes, but Coalville started to knock on the Nantwich door, and eventually reaped their reward.

After 26 minutes, a foul on Dabbers keeper Will Jaaskelainen went unnoticed, and Cleveland Taylor capitalised as he bundled the ball home.

A minute before the interval, Coalville snatched the lead. An excellent volley from Jermaine Hollis bent into the top right-hand corner, leaving Jaaskelainen no chance.

Five minutes after the break, Nantwich almost levelled as Clayton flicked the ball onto Bell, who let the ball bounce before striking one powerfully that was tipped wide by Coton.

However, on 52 minutes, the visitors got their third goal. Bryant curled one towards goal which Jaaskelainen brilliantly palmed onto the crossbar, only for Creaney to tap the loose ball into an empty net.

The Dabbers tried to get back in the game, but things were made worse after an hour when they were reduced to 10 men. Clayton went in late on Bryant, attracting plenty of shouts from the Coalville players. The referee showed the forward a straight red card having consulting with his linesman.

To their credit, the Dabbers still created chances to try and get back into the game.

Bell was denied by Coton from close range, before substitute Curtis Strong curled a right footed effort against the crossbar.

At the other end, Jaaskelainen saved well from Creaney who shot low at the keeper following Blair Anderson’s cutback.

The final chance of the game fell to recent Dabbers signing Luke Walley who fired wide of the far post after finding space just inside the Coalville box.

Nantwich Town: Jaaskelainen, Bourne, Wildin, Stair, McDonald, Hall © (Strong 66’), Mwasile, Hughes, Clayton, Bell, S. Jones (Walley 60’). Unused Subs: Morgan, Forbes, Burzynski

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