Nantwich Town 1
Prescot Cables 3
League (NPL Division 1 West)

Match Report

Nantwich Town fell to a 3-1 defeat in their league opener against Prescot Cables on Saturday afternoon at the Swansway Stadium.

Chances were shared evenly between the two sides in the opening exchanges, but neither goalkeeper was tested too much as the two sides found their way into the opening minutes of the league campaign.

However, as the first half progressed, it was the home side who looked the more dominant, coming the closest through Byron Moore, who was teed up by Ollie Pope.

The keeper got his fingertips to the forward’s attempt as it grazed the post before he was able to claim it gladly.

Despite having the lion’s share of the chances, it was Prescot who had the ball in the back of the net first as Paul Murphy lashed the ball into the back of the net, only for it to be called back for a foul in the build-up.

Soon it would be the Dabbers to break the deadlock though as a recycled corner kick was put back in by Joe Piggott before being turned at the near post by Pope. A great moment for him to get his first ever senior Nantwich goal for a former youth product of the club (pictured).

Pope was soon causing trouble for the Prescot defence again, winning a free kick in a promising position which was subsequently deflected behind for a goal kick.

Just shy of half-time, Prescot got their equaliser through striker Olly Molloy from the penalty spot, flashing it past a diving Yusuf Mersin to level things up after Jack Loughran was brought down.

Prescot were the team in the ascendancy in the second half after manager Steven Daley made four half-time changes, clearly unhappy with his side despite the level scoreline. Two chances came the way of Loughran early in the second half, but both were put wide of the Nantwich net.

However, substitute John Murphy put the Cables in front on the hour mark after the Nantwich defence were sliced open.

Murphy was then at the double a few minutes later after a save from Mersin fell into his path to increase the visitors’ lead to two.

A flurry of chances for Nantwich to peg Prescot back soon followed, but no one in green could turn it in.

As the minutes ticked by, the Dabbers tried desperately to get something out of the game but couldn’t quite fashion any meaningful opportunities on the Prescot goal.

A few good saves from Mersin late on spared any further blushes for Nantwich as they got their league campaign off on the wrong foot.

Nantwich Town: Yusuf Mersin, Aidy Roxburgh, Perry Bircumshaw, Joe Piggott (Fenton Green, 77), Harry Davis (C), Paddy Kennedy, Ollie Pope (Callum Saunders, 77), Ethan Hartshorn, Josh Hancock (James Baillie, 81), Joe Collins (Mason McKay, 81), Byron Moore (Iwan Roberts 68)
Goal: Ollie Pope 41’

Prescot Cables: Tony Thompson, Joel Porter (Jack Rogers, 46), Matty Waters, Peter Clarke (James Foley, 46), Liam Hollett ©, Charley Doyle, Jack Loughran, James Devine, Olly Molloy (John Murphy, 46), Tony Donaldson, Paul Murphy-Worrell (Sharif Deans, 46)
Goals: Olly Molloy 45+3’ (pen), John Murphy 67’,70’

Attendance: 442

Match report written by Oliver Shorland (www.nantwichtownfc.co.uk)