Nantwich Town 5
Darlaston Town 1874 1
League (NPL Division 1 West)

Match Report

With the Dabbers looking to get back to winning ways after back-to-back losses, Luke Goddard made some changes from the 1-0 loss to Bury last time out.

As Ben Hockenhull was not in the side, the backline had to be switched up, with Adam Rooney making a start with Byron Moore filling in at left back.

Goddard also gave a first start to AFC Fylde loanee Mason McKay on the left wing after making two appearances as a substitute so far.

The recently relegated visitors took a surprising lead very early on as Zidan Sutherland rode two challenges with a lovely piece of close control and rolled the ball under Ben Garratt for 1-0.

Sutherland then created a chance to double his tally for the day when he cut inside from the right wing to strike, but his effort was straight at Garratt, who comfortably saved.

The Dabbers then began to take some more control of the game by creating multiple chances. Joe Connolly and Alex Panter both had their shots blocked before Panter missed a golden opportunity with a header at the back post from a looping McKay cross.

Joe Robbins, fresh off making his 100th Nantwich appearance, levelled the score after McKay’s unorthodox flick from the floor found the midfielder, who had time to take a touch and place the ball in the bottom corner.

Byron Harrison then had two great chances to get the Dabbers ahead, and to the shock of the Nantwich faithful, missed them both.

The striker made a great run into the box and was picked out superbly by Aidy Roxburgh but sliced the ball over the bar from very close range. The second chance was much easier for Nantwich’s number nine as McKay latched onto a loose pass from Jordan Spragg and played Harrison through on goal, but he couldn’t convert, curling his effort wide.

Roxburgh completed a first-half comeback for Nantwich when Joel Connolly’s smart ball played him in behind and he made no mistake in beating Tom Beeby, who did save the ball but only onto the crossbar and in for 2-1.

Byron Harrison got the first of two for the day when he was picked out by Connolly and was through on goal once again. This time, he made no mistake and produced a lovely, chipped effort to beat the onrushing Beeby.

McKay, who had been showing good skill to beat his man on multiple occasions already, dribbled past two players inside the Darlaston box and almost managed to beat Beeby at the near post, but the goalkeeper did well to save.

Harrison could’ve had his second of the match and set up the chance for another hat-trick when he was found over the top by McKay and shifted the ball onto his left foot, but his shot crashed off the post with much of the crowd thinking it was going in.

Nantwich’s striker grabbed his second of the day just minutes later as Joe Collins’ driven ball across the box was turned in at the near post, with some confusion whether it was an own goal; Harrison was first to claim it.

The Dabbers’ most recent signing, Joe Piggott, looked to get his first goal after making his return to the club, creating space on the edge after a nice piece of skill to strike.

However, it was Callum Saunders who grabbed Nantwich’s fifth after reacting first to Piggott’s shot being saved and placing it past Beeby to top off a brilliant performance for Nantwich.

James Baillie’s audacious volley from the edge of the box could’ve equalled Nantwich’s best scoreline this season at 6-1, but his effort flew just past the post with Beeby at full stretch.

To make matters even worse for the already relegated Darlaston, player-manager Exodus Geohaghon was shown a red card in the latter stages of the game for dissent towards referee Kyle Lord.

Nantwich Town: Ben Garratt, Aidy Roxburgh (James Baillie, 69), Byron Moore, Joe Robbins (Joe Collins, 57), Adam Rooney, Paddy Kennedy (Perry Bircumshaw, 69), Mason McKay, Joe Piggott, Byron Harrison (Callum Saunders, 69), Joel Connolly (C) (Paddy Jarrett, 57), Alex Panter
Goals: Robbins (30), Roxburgh (39), Harrison (53, 66), Saunders (72)

Darlaston Town: Tom Beeby, Simeon Okoro, Omari Allwood, Lukman Suwareh, Jordan Spragg (C), Exodus Geohaghon, Keiron Berry, Justice Campbell, Zidan Sutherland, Tristan Burke (Michael Taylor, 75), Deandre Davis (Tobias Marshall, 70)
Sub not used: Myles Simpson
Goal: Sutherland (6)
Red card: Geohaghon (86)

Attendance: 279

Match report written by Lewie Tilley (www.nantwichtownfc.co.uk)