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

Match Report

NANTWICH WIN LOCAL TOWNS BATTLE

Alsager Town 1 Nantwich Town 3
NWCFL Division 1, Wednesday 19 November 2003

Nantwich overcame a physical Alsager outfit to secure all three points in this typical derby confrontation.
The Dabbers held the upper hand for most of the game but were only able to make their superiority count in the last ten minutes when two goals in two minutes finished off their battling hosts.
The visitors took the lead on 13 minutes when Danny Griggs converted Nigel Gleghorn’s cross and although chances were at a premium for Alsager, they equalised on the half-hour. Steve Elks profited from a rare error by Nantwich keeper Stuart Heeps to steer home in a goalmouth melee.
After the break, the Dabbers dominated possession. Rob Powner tipped an Adam Vickers shot round the post and then Gleghorn played in Wes Wilkinson but the Nantwich marksman dragged his shot wide of the target. Rough tackling saw the referee caution a handful of home players and Gleghorn’s name was added to those on 70 minute. Heeps denied Craig Redgate in a rare home sortie before Steve Davis and Danny Griggs both spurned efforts to restore Nantwich’s lead.
The all-important goal came on 81 minutes when neat footwork from Griggs played in Adam Vickers who slipped the ball neatly past Powner. Two minutes later, the game was settled when Vernum Rowland put in a cross from the right. Mark Maguire had time to let the ball bounce and he eluded his marker by swivelling on the blind side and rifling home an unstoppable half-volley to make it 3-1.
Ben Biddulph rattled the Nantwich crossbar as Alsager applied late pressure to reduce the arrears but Nantwich gained a deserved victory to take their unbeaten run to five games.
Alsager Powner, Espley, Fraser, Elks, Brotherton, Hurley, Biddulph, Drummond (Bayley,72), Redgate, Kinsey, Verow (Grocott,85)
Nantwich Heeps, Rowland, Gardiner, Alexander, Davis, Vickers, Griggs, Gleghorn, Dawson, Wilkinson (Lawton,85), Maguire.

Match report written by Michael Chatwin