Shaw Lane 0
Nantwich Town 2
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Nantwich Town produced a fine away display at Shaw Lane to earn a 2-0 win, despite going down to 10 men early.

Sean Cooke gave the Dabbers the lead after 13 minutes with an excellent left-footed strike that found the net after being played in by Danny Griggs.

Matt Bell was sent off after 18 minutes after a late tackle, which had Shaw Lane players surrounding the referee.

Despite that, Nantwich rallied and added a second goal after an hour as Joe Mwasile netted from close range to give Nantwich all three points.

Dave Cooke made one change from the Stalybridge Celtic loss, as player-assistant manager Danny Griggs made his first league start of the season, replacing Nathan Cotterell through illness.

Despite a delayed kick off due to motorway delays, Nantwich settled well and Jamie Morgan had the first real chance weaving his way into the box before placing his left-footed effort just wide of the near post.

Three minutes later, Griggs played in Cooke who hit a low, left-footed shot which beat Shaw Lane’s keeper for 1-0.

After sixteen minutes, the hosts almost levelled as an Alex Byrne free-kick was tipped over by young Dabbers keeper Myles Boney.

Soon after came Bell’s red card after a late challenge on Byrne.

A few minutes later, Byrne went in late on Mwasile and the challenge warranted at least a booking but the referee showed no card.

On 27 minutes, Nantwich came close to doubling their lead, as Cooke’s free-kick from distance troubled Myles Wright.

Ten minutes before the interval, the men in green could have had a penalty.

A free-kick into the box was aimed at Joel Stair, whose shirt was being pulled in the box, but the referee rejected protests.

There was a double-change at half-time for the Dabbers, as Sam Wakefield (pictured) and Toby Mullarkey came on in place of Danny Griggs and Sean Cooke.

Ten minutes after the break, Shaw Lane had a penalty shout as Tyler Williams went through on goal.

Boney rushed out and to much of the home support, it looked like Williams had been tripped but referee waved play on.

Nantwich would double their lead soon after on the stroke of the hour mark. Wakefield made a driving run on the left, but was tripped. The referee played advantage, which allowed Harry Clayton to pick up the ball on the left side of the box, square it to Mwasile who could fire in at the back post.

The hosts made a double-switch that saw Dominic Brownhill and Gavin Rothery come off, and Damien Reeves and ex-Dabber Godwin Abadaki enter the fray.

With 20 minutes to go, Shaw Lane almost got a goal back as Kieran Lugsden hit a ferocious shot well-saved by Boney.

The hosts threw one last roll of the dice as they replaced Tyler Williams with Adam Knight.

However, Nantwich controlled possession expertly and Caspar Hughes almost added a third with an effort from the edge of the box that was close to sneaking into the net.

Nantwich Town: Boney, Morgan, Wildin, Stair, Bourne, Hughes, Mwasile, Bell, Clayton (Cole 90+2’), Cooke (Wakefield 46’), Griggs (Mullarkey 46’)
Subs not used: McDonald, S. Jones

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