Kidsgrove Athletic 1
Nantwich Town 3
League (NPL Division 1 West)

Match Report

Nantwich Town won away in the league for the first time since October with a 3-1 victory at Kidsgrove Athletic.

In what was Marc Feighery’s first game as Interim Manager, he made 3 changes from Jon Moran’s final games with starts for Perry Bircumshaw, Ben Hockenhull and Paddy Jarrett.

Jarrett saw an early shot blocked before Jay Ford dragged an effort wide at the other end in the first 10 minutes.

The first big chance fell to the Dabbers when Jarrett slid in Byron Moore. He wasn’t helped by a bobble just as he was going to hit it and it went over the bar; arguably he should still have scored.

It was a half lacking real quality but the first moment of it delivered the first goal.

A burst down the right from Aidy Roxburgh, a familiar sight this season, made space for a low cross into the six-yard box where Alex Panter instinctively and brilliantly backheeled into the net to make it 1-0 Nantwich. That’s now 6 consecutive games in which he’s scored.

Ben Garratt had to be quick off his line to nab the ball off the feet of the in-form Natty Stewart in the box.

A half-chance late in the half saw the ball just over the Nantwich bar.

Similarly to the Stafford game on New Year’s Day, the Dabbers went up a gear or two in the second period to take the game away from their opponents.

A double chance came when Moore tested Ryan Brown with a shot from a narrow angle which he pushed out to Jarrett who sent it over the crossbar.

A low free kick from Kidsgrove took a big deflection and went into the side netting when it could have gone anywhere.

Nantwich came close again when a corner was turned towards goal and cleared off the line by Grove.

The Dabbers were knocking firmly on the door and broke through again in the 65th minute.

Byron Moore again tested Brown with an effort that was parried away to the right edge of the box; the ball was recycled and captain Joel Connolly was able to sweep it with his right foot across Brown and into the far corner.

It sparked great celebrations from Connolly and his team mates; in his 3rd full season and 86th appearance for the club he had finally got his first Nantwich goal.

5 minutes later it was 3-0. Again the Dabbers were quickest to a rebound opportunity and Byron Harrison was on hand to tuck in and move one away from his half century of Nantwich goals.

Kidsgrove huffed and puffed for the majority of the match which was surprising given their deeply impressive home record before this game. But they did get a consolation late on.

In the second minute of stoppage time, player/joint manager Matt Rhead scored with the kind of goal he’s made a career from, poaching in the box and using his strength. So no clean sheet, but the best day on the road for some time and 3 wins in 4 the best run of Nantwich form in several weeks.

Kidsgrove Athletic: Ryan Brown, Reuben Falding, Nathan Morley, Henry Brereton (Macauley Taylor, 70) , Oliver Jepson, Joshua Thorpe (C), Natty Stewart (Charlie Bradbury, 82), Jay Ford, Isacc Phillips (Matt Rhead, 59), Travis Capey, Haydn Lewis (Alex Barnett, 63)
Sub not used: Ritchie Sutton
Goal: Rhead (90+2)

Nantwich Town: Ben Garratt, Aidy Roxburgh (James Baillie, 75), Perry Bircumshaw (Fenton Green, 72), Joe Robbins, Ben Hockenhull, Paddy Kennedy, Alex Panter, Joel Connolly (C), Byron Harrison (Harry Bower, 79), Paddy Jarrett (Joe Collins, 72), Byron Moore (George Cooper, 79)
Goals: Panter (35), Connolly (65), Harrison (70)

Attendance: 354

Match report written by Liam Price (www.nantwichtownfc.co.uk)