Newcastle Town 5
Nantwich Town 2
League (NW Counties League Div 1)

Match Report

NEWCASTLE TOWN 5 NANTWICH TOWN 2
NWCFL Div 1 – 30 November 2004

Newcastle hot-shot Michael Lennon proved to be the difference in this topsy-turvy derby encounter at the Lyme Valley Stadium. The ‘Castle marksman notched up a quickfire hat-trick to sink the Dabbers and take his season’s tally in to double figures.
Two quick goals midway through the first half looked to have the home side heading for a comfortable victory but Nantwich fought back to level the scores only to be sunk by three goals netted just before and after the half-time break. It was ‘Castle player-boss Nigel Gleghorn’s first match against his former charges and the ex-Stoke City man will have been pleased with the way that his forwards tormented the Nantwich defence down both flanks.
It was Gleghorn who had the first attempt on goal but Nantwich keeper Danny Read made a diving save from the veteran’s free-kick on seven minutes. Read was again at his best to deny the menacing Lennon shortly afterwards and the Dabbers signalled their intent when Glyn Blackhurst latched on to Paul Rutter’s flick and sent a drive sizzling past the post.
The game all changed on 23 minutes when Read couldn’t hold a swerving free-kick and poacher Andy Bott pounced to scramble the ball home. A minute later, the hosts went 2-0 up when Lennon shrugged off Richard Pullar’s challenge and slotted past Read from 15 yards.
To Nantwich’s credit, they fought back and, just before the half-hour mark, they were back in the game. Blackhurst combined well with Neil O’Brien, setting up Rutter to fire home from the edge of the area for his tenth goal of the campaign.
And, on 44 minutes, Nantwich drew level at 2-2. Breaking quickly from defence, the Dabbers played some neat football and when Rutter played in O’Brien he left the diving Richard Froggatt grasping at thin air.
Just when Nantwich needed to hold the fort, Castle struck back on the stroke of half-time when Lennon was gifted a free header to nod home from short range.
Within two minutes of the re-start the contest was over. First Lennon raced through from the left before slotting past Read for his hat-trick, then, with Nantwich still reeling Lennon dispossessed Danny Griggs and fed Gleghorn to sweep the ball home to make it 5-2.
Lennon jinked through the visitors defence again on the hour mark only for Read to palm away his effort but the game petered out with Newcastle content with their evening’s work and Nantwich resigned to defeat against a side that showed its cutting edge on the night.
Newcastle: Froggatt, Woodvine (Kiely,77), Weston, Beeston, Diskin, Gillick, Harris, Johnson (Miller,83), Bott, Lennon, Gleghorn (Wilkes,65). Booked: Beeston (17mins)
Nantwich: Read, Morris, Parkinson, Davis, Pullar, O’Brien (Ilemann,83), Brough, Blackhurst, Rutter (Hampshire,77), Blake, Griggs.

Match report written by Michael Chatwin