Newcastle Town 1
Nantwich Town 3
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

The Dabbers chalked up their fifth win in six starts this season with an enterprising victory at neighbours Newcastle Town. Nigel Gleghorn’s side tore into the home side from the kick off and had rattled up a 3-0 lead midway into the first half.
Good running off the ball, slick movement and clever passing saw Nantwich run rings round a flat Newcastle defence. Nantwich’s goals were scored by their trio of diminutive strikers - whose pace literally left the ‘Castle defence standing. Wes Wilkinson was first on the scoresheet after 13 minutes, running through to lob the advancing Simon Pay from 30 yards. Next up was Simon Hackney, running on to net from a through ball on 21 minutes and, not to be outdone, Gareth Brookes got on the scoresheet two minutes later. Again the home side’s offside trap failed leaving Brookes free to tuck the ball past the despairing ex-Nantwich custodian.
This shamed Newcastle into action and Michael Perry pulled a goal back on 27 minutes when he headed in a Brett Barlow cross from close range.
More gaols looked to be on the cards and Brookes spurned a chance to claim his second with an over-elaborate effort when he was again put through.
On the hour mark, Wilkinson was tugged back by Steve Colclough as he raced into the the ‘Castle penalty area and the Newcastle defender was lucky to escape with just a booking and a free kick conceded on the edge of the area. Further chances fell to Brookes, Ashley O’Leary, Matt Bailey and Adam Vickers but it took a last minute save by Stuart Heeps to preserve the winning margin.
The win took Nantwich up to sixth place in the league table. If the side can apply the slick football played in the first 25 minutes to the full 90 minutes, the Dabbers will be in for their most successful season for many years.
Nantwich: Heeps, Hall, Melling, Packham, Gleghorn, Vickers, Thomasson (O’Leary,61), Knight, Wilkinson (Bailey,78), Brookes, Hackney. Booked - Brookes (77mins), Knight (84mins), O’Leary (89mins)
Newcastle: Pay, Gillick, Stokes (Fraser,83), Colclough, Diskin, Banks, Barlow, Beeston, Perry (Walklet,70), Lennon, Woodvine. Booked – Diskin (55mins), Colclough (60mins)
Star Man: Nigel Gleghorn: ‘King of the Castle’, led his troops by example

Match report written by Michael Chatwin