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

Match Report

DABBERS TOPPLE TABLE TOPPERS

Nantwich Town 3, Mossley 1
NWCFL Division 1, 10 January 2004

On their day, the Dabbers are a match for any side in the North West Counties League. This happened to be one of those days. After soaking up some early pressure, Nantwich took a strangehold on the game and ran out worthy winners over table-topping Mossley, ending their 21 game unbeaten run into the bargain.
Even in the goalless first half, it was the home side who carved out the best openings and Wes Wilkinson should have fired Nantwich ahead after charging down Mossley keeper Jean-Paul Ndjebayi’s clearance. The 20-goal marksmen hesitated, though, and his eventual strike was booted off the line.
It was the visitors, however, who grabbed the lead shortly after the interval. Steve Sheil’s high ball caught the home defence napping and Josh Howard stole in to squeeze the ball past Simon Pay from 15 yards. Nantwich showed character to regain control of the game with player-boss Nigel Gleghorn pulling the strings in midfield.
And, it was the former Stoke City veteran, himself, who netted the equaliser just before the hour mark to silence the barracking Mossley fans. Griggs raced down the left and set up Ashley Lawton whose deflected shot was swept home at close range by Gleghorn.
The goal spurred on the Dabbers and five minutes later Wilkinson was upended on the edge of the area. Up stepped Danny Griggs to elegantly curl his free-kick into the top corner of the Mossley goal to put Nantwich 2-1 up against his former side.
The Nantwich midfield continued to keep the league leaders in check and seven minutes from time victory was sealed. Running from the half-way line dangerman Wilkinson jinked past three defenders before being bundled over in the box by Steve Tobin. Wilkinson picked himself up and gave Ndjebayi no chance from the spot kick.
Mossley’s second half efforts had been restricted to a long range effort from Shaun Dootson and a weak shot on the turn by Leon Mike shortly after they had gone ahead. It was a disappointing display from a side nine points clear at the top but it showed the class Gleghorn’s charges are capable of when faced with quality opposition.
Nantwich Pay, Rowland (Vickers,15), Gardiner, Jardine, Davis (Parkinson,75), Buckle, Griggs, Gleghorn, Dawson (Lawton,50), Wilkinson, Hall. Booked: None
Mossley Ndjebayi, Headley, Sheil, Phillips (Brown,h-t), Taylor, Dootson, Bailey, Tobin, Mike, Howard, Morning (Heaton,61). Booked: Headley (62mins), Dootson (89mins)

Match report written by Michael Chatwin