Kidsgrove Athletic 2
Nantwich Town 2
League (NPL Division 1 South)

Match Report

UniBond League First Division South

Saturday 23rd February.2008.

Kidsgrove Athletic 2 v NANTWICH TOWN 2
Michael Lennon.35. Nick Farquharson.19.
Richard Eyre. (Pen) 58. Ashley Carter.70.

Kidsgrove Athletic: James Coates. Richard Eyre. Alex Morris. Mark Beeston. Anthony Kielty © Craig Lovatt. Aidan Matranga. Ryan Baker. Steve Jones. Michael Lennon. Phil Hadland. Substitutes: Ashley Hill. Matt Elder. Simon Everall.

NANTWICH TOWN: Lee Jones. Andy Taylor. Gyorgy Kiss. Richard Smith. Ryan Dicker. Phil Parkinson © Ashley Carter (Beasley.82). Glyn Blackhurst. Andy Kinsey (Southern.78). Nick Farquharson. Danny Griggs. Substitutes: Adam Beasley. Nathan Southern. Nick Linford.

Andy Kinsey passed a late fitness test whilst ‘The Dabbers’ were without Paul Donnelly (flu) Kevin Ward (flu) Pavol Suhaj (unavailable) and Paul Taylor (family illness) for this local derby.
Nantwich were seeking to build on their midweek victory over Sheffield FC but, were under no illusions, Kidsgrove are fighting for survival in the division and would provide tough competition despite their lowly status.

Kidsgrove were out of the blocks early, forcing Nantwich on the defensive with Andy Kinsey on hand in the 3rd minute to head clear a Michael Lennon shot whilst moments later, a Ryan Baker inside ball to Steve Jones was struck wide of the far post by the veteran midfielder.

But, that early flurry by the home side was quickly extinguished and Nick Farquharson went close with a 9th minute glancing header before Glyn Blackhurst climbed above the home defence to power a close range downward header that fell into the waiting hands of goal keeper Coates. Ashley Carter followed by testing Coates with a blistering strike that the home ‘keeper just managed to block at the foot of his near post meanwhile, at the other end, Andy Taylor did well to fend off the attention of winger Phil Hadland whose run from midfield had taken him deep into Nantwich territory.
On the quarter hour, Coates punched clear from a Danny Griggs corner kick before efforts from Kidsgrove midfielder’s Craig Lovatt and Ryan Baker were thwarted by the ‘Dabbers’ defence. However, 4 minutes later, Nantwich took a controversial lead. Having swept up field from a clearance, Nantwich attacked pushing Kidsgrove deep in defence before Andy Kinsey was alleged to have headed the ball out of Coates hands, the loose ball then played out wide into the path of Nick Farquharson who drifted into the box before shooting across the bows of the ‘keeper into the far bottom corner of the net. Despite protests from the home side referee Mr M.Hughes allowed the goal to stand and in the process booked three Kidsgrove players.

On 25 minutes, Andy Taylor was again on hand to deny Lennon after the Kidsgrove striker ran the ball along the bye line close to goal before the right foot of Taylor nicked the ball away. A Griggs – Farquharson combined effort concluded after Coates managed to turn Farquharson’s shot around a post for a corner. Blackhurst followed by striking Griggs flag kick narrowly over the bar whilst a testing Griggs 33rd minute free kick was blocked by Alex Morris deep on the right. At the other end, a Lovatt – Lennon move was broken up by Andy Taylor before Nantwich returned with a series of attacks that began with Farquharson’s inside pass to Kinsey whose shot was blocked on the line by Coates and then a Ryan Dicker ball into the path of Carter whose strike was initially fumbled but then retrieved by Coates with a second attempt.

Minutes before the break, a Steve Jones effort was held by the Nantwich custodian, ‘Dabbers’ captain Phil Parkinson then won a battle to halt the progress of midfielder Aidan Matranga before a Steve Jones ball into the path of Mark Beeston ended up in the back of the net but the Kidsgrove centre half’s goal was ruled offside. At the other end, Blackhurst slipped on the edge of the 6 yard box just as he was about to latch on to a Griggs inside ball from deep but, at the break, Farquharson’s 19th minute controversial goal separated the sides.

Half time: Kidsgrove Athletic 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 1

Less than a minute into the second half, Glyn Blackhurst went down in the box under a heavy challenge but, frantic appeals for a penalty were ignored. Blackhurst and Carter combined to set up Kinsey in the 47th minute before the Nantwich striker’s shot was held on the goal line by Coates. A Danny Griggs free kick was then dispatched for a corner by Kidsgrove centre half captain Anthony Kielthy before Blackhurst turned the ball wide from the resultant Griggs flag kick. But, despite the early second half threats from ‘The Dabbers’ they conceded in the 55th minute through Michael Lennon. In the build up to the equalizer, winger Phil Hadland collected the ball deep in his own half before setting out on a mazy run that took him close to the left hand side of the Nantwich bye line. Despite the efforts of Gyorgy Kiss to deny Hadland’s advance, the Kidsgrove winger laid the ball into the path of Lennon who produced a clinical finish from 15 yards to level the score line.

Two minutes later, the home side took a controversial lead. Referee Hughes adjudged Phil Parkinson to have raised a hand to the ball inside the box before Kidsgrove right back Richard Eyre sent Lee Jones the wrong way to dispatch the controversial spot kick. Despite Parkinson’s protestations at his innocence, the referee awarded the Nantwich captain a yellow card that set a tone of anger in the Nantwich camp.

Kinsey and Dicker also found themselves receiving cautions, albeit in separate incidents. On the hour, a Danny Griggs free kick was diverted over the bar for a corner by Coates before the busier of the two ‘keepers punched clear from the resultant flag kick. Two minutes later, strong Nantwich appeals for a penalty were turned down despite Eyre committing a hand ball offence from a Griggs close range shot. Blackhurst headed inches over the bar from a 63rd minute corner whilst a Parkinson 20 yard volley was held by Coates on his line. In a rare Kidsgrove attack, Matranga volleyed over the bar whilst moments later, Carter back tracked to break up a move by Hadland. And, it was Carter who deservedly leveled for ‘The Dabbers’ in the 70th minute. From neat interchanges between Farquharson and Carter the 19 year old winger produced a clinical finish from just inside the box to set up a tense final 20 minutes. Nantwich piled in with a series of attacks, meantime Nathan Southern replaced Andy Kinsey in the 78th minute whilst two minutes later, Coates excelled when his razor like reaction allowed him to tip over a superb close range strike from Griggs. But, in the 81st minute, play was held for over 5 minutes due to a head injury sustained by Kidsgrove centre half Mark Beeston, who eventually left for hospital. Blackhurst powered a header over the bar from close range before play was held up again, this time for a facial injury to centre half Kielthy who suffered a broken nose during the incident. When play resumed, Nantwich continued to rain in shots from all angles. A superb Richard Smith ball on to the head of Nick Farquharson was glanced narrowly wide of the far post before play was held up yet again following incidents involving Kidsgrove left back Alex Morris and Nantwich Town’s Ashley Carter. Neither player was able to continue but, when play resumed, Nantwich piled in with attack after attack that failed through a combination of stout defending, on occasion brilliant goalkeeping, poor decision making, combined with several slices of luck.

Head coach Steve Davis was blunt in his after match analysis and said: “I am never quick to criticize a match official but, on this occasion I am going to make an exception. Some of his decisions not only affected us but, also had an adverse affect on Kidsgrove. Having said that, we dominated proceedings in the first half whilst in the second period I didn’t think we were as effective, despite camping in their half in the late stages. However, we created 22 chances but have to give credit to their goal keeper. He made some outstanding saves that kept his side in the game.”

Match report written by Phil Johnson