Nantwich Town 3
Northwich Victoria 0
Cheshire Senior Cup (3rd Round)

Match Report

Nantwich Town secured passage to the Cheshire Senior Cup Semi-Final for a fourth consecutive year after a comfortable victory over North West Counties Football League side Northwich Victoria.

A Joe Malkin brace and a goal from Callum Saunders (pictured) allowed the Dabbers to progress into their fourth consecutive Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final.

Will Saxon and Callum Saunders had some solid early chances, but both efforts went begging in the opening ten minutes.

The Dabbers struggled early on as a stubborn back-line for Northwich saw several Dabbers attacks halted for offside decisions, much to the anger and frustration of the home support.

It would be Saunders to give the Dabbers the lead just after the twenty-second minute, as a neat cross from Jimmy Lawrie into the box should have been dealt with by the visitors’ back-line, but evaded everyone and allowed for the Welshman to nudge it home at the far post.

Perhaps many supporters expected the floodgates to open as they did in the previous round against Cammell Laird, but Northwich Victoria did really challenge Dave Cooke’s men, as they had a few solid chances – perhaps the best was a double save from Greg Hall as he denied efforts from skipper Joseph Camozzi and Ryan Winder.

However, the first half would end with the Dabbers narrowly ahead.

A miscommunication at the back for the hosts meant a free-kick was awarded to the Trickies after a late challenge from Ben Harrison, but the set-piece was fired into the wall from thirty yards out soon after the start of the second half.

The Dabbers extended their lead on the hour mark, as super work from Troy Bourne on the left side saw the defender block two balls forward, with the loose ball falling to Malkin, whose pinpoint effort curled past the outstretched hand of Matthew Hale for the Dabbers to make it 2-0.

The next twenty minutes passed with the Dabbers in cruise control, but their victory was all but secured with ten minutes to go as Malkin completed his brace from a corner, as the striker rose the highest to head the ball home.

Despite an entertaining final ten minutes, the Dabbers would not add to their lead and progressed to their fourth Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final on the spin.

And boss Dave Cooke, who made six changes for the cup clash, was more than happy with his side’s showing.

“We made six changes, but the changes to the side weren’t forced,” he said. “They were lads who were injured or suspended so they needed the minutes.

“The game worked out well for us, no-one picked up any injuries so all in all it’s been a good night’s work. Prince Haywood was the best player on the pitch. He was steady away at right-back, dropped into the midfield towards the end and looked after the ball well.

“We looked sloppy in the first half so I had to give one or two a rollicking at half-time just to step it up a little bit which they did. I had no complaints in the second half – I thought we ran out easy winners in the end.”

As the Dabbers reach their fourth consecutive Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final, Cooke is wary of such a difficult quartet as the last four.

“It’s a competition which is close to my heart for many, many reasons. I grew up with it and we’ve won it the last two years which has been fantastic.

“It’s a competition we’re not taking lightly – Warrington have won so it’s us and them in the semi-final, possibly joined by Crewe and Vauxhall or Hyde so it’s definitely going to be tough quartet.

“We’ll see who we draw and again give it our best shot.”

Match report written by the Nantwich News