Nantwich Town 3
Witton Albion 0
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Nantwich Town earned a fine 3-0 victory over local rivals Witton Albion on Bank Holiday Monday to maintain their 100% winning start to 2019-20.

The Dabbers eased to their win at the Weaver Stadium as the visitors frustration boiled over in the hot sun.

They were reduced to 10 men in the second half, but the three points had already been secured by Nantwich by the time Ryan O’Hare received two yellow cards in quick succession.

The visitors began brightly enough, with a couple of early half chances.

But Dave Cooke’s men soon wrestled control and took an early lead. The lively Joe Mwasile was quickest react to a high cross from the right which was nodded back across the face of goal. He pounced to bundle the ball home from a few yards out.

Soon after, a fine Sean Cooke effort almost made it 2-0 as his rasper skimmed the crossbar.

Joe Malkin was then thwarted by the Witton keeper on 32 minutes.

But it wasn’t long before Nantwich doubled their advantage. This time, Cooke got his free-kick technique spot-on and curled a beauty over the wall and into the corner, giving the keeper no chance.

James Lawrie and Cooke had efforts off target before the break, with Nantwich in total control.

Soon after the break, full-back Casper Hughes went close firing over the crossbar from 20 yards.

Witton’s best chance of the game came on 58 minutes. A free-kick was headed goalwards but cleared off the line by the scrambling Nantwich defence.

The Dabbers sealed all three points on 62 minutes when a cross from the right found Mwasile at the back post who fired home from an acute angle.

Jamie Lawrie was denied a fourth for Nantwich by a fine Renshaw save, before Witton’s fate was sealed with O’Hare’s red card with 20 minutes remaining.

Nantwich saw out the game comfortably and are now second in Bet Victor Northern Premier League, with only Matlock Town the other club with a 100% record so far.

Photo: Joe Davis is first to the ball with Joe Malkin watching on.

Match report written by the Nantwich News