King's Lynn 0
Nantwich Town 3
League *MATCH EXPUNGED* stats excluded from records (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

DABBERS GO TOP OF THE LEAGUE!

Date: Saturday 26th September.2009

KINGS LYNN 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 3
Ashley Carter.34.
Matt Rhead. 59.61

NANTWICH TOWN: Jones. Reeves. Flynn. Sutton. Tinson. Sedgemore. Mahmoud. Blackhurst. Rhead. Lennon. Carter. Substitutes: - Jack. Aaron Carter. Whittaker. Chapman g/k.

Attendance: 825.

Nantwich were hit by the absence of Dave Tickle who was taken ill on the morning of the match whilst confusion reigned over an impending ban involving Dave McPherson that led to the FA advising Nantwich not to play the ‘Dabbers’ midfielder due to the referees report not being in their possession.

The game opened in lively fashion with the pace of Kings Lynn front pairing Joe Magunda and Peterborough United loan forward Kwesi Appiah causing Nantwich full backs Charlie Reeves and Chris Flynn problems. Appiah then shrugged off his marker to deliver a close range header but ‘Dabbers’ goalkeeper Lee Jones reacted in the nick of time to pull off a valuable save. However, Nantwich stood their ground and a Jake Sedgemore free kick was met by Matt Rhead whose effort unfortunately missed the target whilst moments later a Rhead header went straight to ‘Linnets’ goalkeeper Danny Gay. Meanwhile, the game continued to switch ends with the ‘Dabbers’ defence having to remain on alert to the continuous threat of Magunda and Appiah.

Midway through the first half Michael Lennon and Ashley Carter both had good opportunities with close range headers but which fell wide of the target. On 24 minutes, Glyn Blackhurst spotted Gay off his line but despite lofting the ball over the Kings Lynn No.1 his effort narrowly cleared the bar. Chris Flynn then became the victim of a very strong challenge from ‘Linnets midfielder Owen Story but was able to continue following treatment.

GOAL: 34 minutes. Nantwich went ahead through Ashley Carter who latched on to a Jake Sedgemore pass and after gaining advantage of a defensive error between Gay and Nathaniel Rowe-Turner the ‘Dabbers’ winger applied the finishing touch from close range.

The home side continued to apply pressure but as the half wore on the ‘Dabbers’ grew in confidence and were unlucky not to go further ahead in added time after Lennon went close with a header.

HT: Kings Lynn 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 1

Ten minutes into the second half the pace of ‘Dabbers’ winger Omar Mahmoud took him past the Kings Lynn defence before squaring the ball into the path of the overlapping Rhead whose powerful shot flew up off the body of Gay before clearance by the defence. At the other end, a mix up in the Nantwich defence presented ‘Linnets’ leading scorer Anthony Robinson with an opportunity but he fluffed his chance when well placed. Nantwich were then struck with an injury blow – a reoccurring hamstring injury forcing Chris Flynn to retire before replacement by Dave Whittaker leaving Nantwich to reshuffle their defence whilst moments later, Darren Tinson went down heavily under challenge on the halfway line but was able to continue after treatment. Meanwhile, the home side were finding Nantwich a hard nut to crack and Jake Sedgemore was most unfortunate to see his powerful 25 yard strike sail past a post by the narrowest of margins.

GOAL: 59 minutes: Nantwich went further ahead following great build up play between Carter and Mahmoud, Rhead meeting the young Egyptian winger’s cross before applying a neat finish from 8 yards.

GOAL: 61 minutes. A Mahmoud corner was met by Rhead whose bullet header went beyond Gay to deservedly put Nantwich 3-0 ahead.

Aaron Carter replaced the tiring Charlie Reeves and with fifteen minutes of normal time remaining Rodney Jack replaced the hard working Rhead with the former Crewe Alex forward straight into the action when he received a clinical pass from Sedgemore. However, Jack was desperately unlucky to witness his close range shot hacked off the line as the home defence retreated once again.

The hosts continued to put Nantwich under pressure but, to their credit the ‘Dabbers’ soaked up everything that was thrown ‘Dabbers’ goalkeeper Lee Jones with a relatively untroubled afternoon.

** Nantwich lead the UniBond Premier Division table on goal difference from Kendal Town.

Match report written by Phil Johnson