Nantwich Town 1
Spennymoor Town 0
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Nantwich Town registered their sixth straight league win after beating Spennymoor Town 1-0 at the Weaver Stadium.

Sean Cooke’s first half strike was enough for the Dabbers who dominated much of the game and were denied more goals by visiting keeper Andrew Rafferty.

Phil Parkinson made a number of changes from the midweek cup win at Mossley with Osebi Abadaki, Sean Cooke, Matt Bell, Joe Mwasile and Curtis Jones returning to the starting line up.

It was a scrappy start in front of 300 fans, with neither side able to get a firm grip on the game although Curtis Jones saw his early header go wide of the goal.

At the other end Moors' right back Kallum Griffiths received the ball out wide, before cutting in and firing straight at Dave Parton with his left foot.

The visitors enjoyed plenty of the ball in the middle of the park and striker Graeme Armstrong found himself through on goal but dragged his shot wide of the target with just Parton to beat.

Nantwich began to find openings in the final third, and Josh Hancock was inches from getting on the end of Joe Mwasile’s through ball after the winger had spun his marker in the centre of the pitch.

It was the Dabbers who took the lead on 35 minutes as midfielder Cooke unleashed a powerful effort from 30 yards which flew underneath Rafferty, who perhaps should have done better.

The goal was the last opportunity in the first period and the Dabbers began the second half with real determination to find a second.

Rafferty did well to palm Andy White’s long range effort away with Ben Harrison dragging the rebound wide of the post.

Five minutes later, Osebi Abadaki was next to test the Spennymoor keeper with the winger seeing his shot blocked by the legs of the Moors’ stopper after Hancock had played him in on goal.

Wayne Riley then burst through on goal but his final touch was heavy, giving Rafferty a chance to get to the ball first.

The keeper made a fine close range save from Cooke who had got on the end of Riley’s right wing cross.

The home defence were rarely tested although Jones used his strength to take the ball off Armstrong who had sensed an opportunity.

Mwasile, who caused the visiting defence problems all game, saw his low cross evade a team mate after the winger had done well down the right hand side.

The former Marine man was the next Dabbers player to be thwarted by Rafferty as the keeper blocked with his legs from close range.

Spennymoor finally registered their first shot of the second half in the 85th minute as Parton had to be alert to palm away Glen Taylor’s shot from the edge of the box after the substitute had swivelled his marker.

This was as good as it got for the visitors who were unable to create a final chance on goal as the Dabbers comfortably saw out the game.

Nantwich Town: Parton, White, Touray, C. Jones, Harrison, Bell, Hancock (c) (Brooke 68), Riley, Mwasile, Cooke (Sanders 87), O. Abadaki (T. Stair 80). Subs not used: Walker, J. Stair.

Match report written by Steve Sharman (www.nantwichtownfc.co.uk)