Nantwich Town 4
Spalding United 1
League (NPL Division 1 South)

Match Report

UniBond League First Division South.

Saturday 1st March.2008.

NANTWICH TOWN 4 v Spalding United 1
Carter.21.69; Kinsey.27; Griggs.41. Ben Garrick.57.

Referee: Mr.S.Mather. Attendance.458.

NANTWICH TOWN: Craig Ellison. Andy Taylor. Paul Donnelly. Richard Smith. Paul Taylor (Dicker 82). Phil Parkinson © Ashley Carter. Glyn Blackhurst (Beasley 71). Andy Kinsey. Nick Farquharson (Mahmood 76). Danny Griggs. Substitutes: Adam Beasley. Ryan Dicker. Omar Mahmood.

Spalding United: James Doughty. Andy Stanhope. Adam Buckley. Sam Wadieh. Gary Rawson (Hone 82). Danny George ©. Danny Hargreaves (Stone 73). Scott Haworth. Lee Orrey. Ben Garrick. Luke Forbes. Substitutes: David Hone. Michael Stone. Ian Forvargue.

Nantwich were without regular goal keeper Lee Jones (groin injury) whilst striker Pavol Suhaj entered the start of a 5 match suspension. Meanwhile, 16 year old Egyptian striker Ohmar Mahmood, signed earlier in the week from Port Vale, started from the bench.

The home side went straight into the attack and pinned bottom club Spalding in their own half for long periods. Phil Parkinson went close with a header in the first minute before Danny Griggs threatened from the right with a shot that fell narrowly wide of the far post.

A 4th minute Danny Griggs free kick was almost converted into an own goal by Spalding captain Danny George before Farquharson pulled the ball back and laid into the path of Griggs whose first time strike inched over the bar. Despite their bright start, Nantwich lacked a clinical finish, allied to several interchanges going astray. Spalding seized on space down the home right in the 18th minute, winger Hargreaves using his turn of pace to proceed deep toward the edge of the box before crossing to striker Garrick who lost composure before firing wide of the target from 12 yards.

Glyn Blackhurst produced one of his customary long throw-ins 20 minutes into the half that led to centre half Rawson heading over at the expense of a corner. Blackhurst and Carter both had close range efforts blocked before Carter came good to give ‘The Dabbers’ a 21st minute lead. In the build up to the opening goal, the ball was switched across the 6 yard box before Carter seized on a chance at the far post to drive the ball into the roof of the net from a yard out.

Nantwich laid siege to the Spalding half, leaving ‘The Tulips’ mere spectators at times before Andy Kinsey added a second goal in the 27th minute. Exchanges between Griggs – Carter – Farquharson led to the on loan Crewe striker laying the ball into the path of Kinsey 8 yards out but, despite Doughty standing his ground, Kinsey picked his spot and rifled into the back of the net.

On the half hour, a Farquharson shot flew off the bottom of a post into the path of Blackhurst, who was unfortunate to shoot into the side netting. A Farquharson close range effort then rebounded off Doughty before clearance. Kinsey threatened with a close range header following ‘The Dabbers’ 9th corner of the half whilst Spalding went close to conceding again when Danny George launched himself at a shot with a flying header that inched past the far post with the Doughty beaten. At the other end, stand-in Witton Albion on loan ‘keeper Craig Ellison was virtually redundant, such was the dominance of Nantwich, who proceeded to increase their well deserved lead through Danny Griggs 4 minutes from the break. In the build up to the goal, Blackhurst burst down the middle from just inside the Spalding half, squeezed between the centre half pairing of Wadieh and Rawson before passing to the overlapping Griggs who produced a clinical finish from 10 yards.

Meanwhile, the visitors produced a late rally that saw striker Lee Orrey reach the bye line and place a close range effort into the waiting hands of Ellison. However, such was Nantwich dominance in the first period that a 3-0 score line seemed almost unreal. Better finishing though, might have told a different story!

HT: NANTWICH TOWN 3 v Spalding United 0

Despite trailing by 3 goals, Spalding emerged from the dressing room with enthusiasm and greater purpose and playmaker Hargreaves was first to show when he threatened on the left in the 46th minute but, a lack of quality support from his fellow players rendered him a wasted figure. It took Nantwich just three minutes of the second half to threaten again. Kinsey played a great cross field ball to Carter, who then brought in Farquharson on the edge of the box before the Crewe striker ran out of space and the chance disappered. Kinsey linked with Carter in the 49th minute and what initially looked like a 4th goal ended when Carter’s fierce shot from an angle flashed inches wide of the far post. But Farquharson really should have done better a minute later. A break from midfield brought the striker into play and after turning central defender Wadieh, Farquharson faced a one on one situation with out of position Doughty but then proceeded with a shot that arched over the cross bar from just 10 yards out.

Nantwich registered their 14th corner of the game in the 55th minute – Kinsey went close a minute later with a free kick from outside the box before the home side were caught napping in the 57th minute. A long ball out of the Spalding half was placed just outside the Nantwich box into the path of Garrick but, despite the efforts of centre half Paul Taylor, Garrick came off best in the challenge before looping his shot over out of position Ellison to give Spalding outside hope. But, hope was all it was. A 69th minute Nantwich free kick from the lively Griggs was clinically converted via a Carter close range header after the youngster climbed above his marker to plant a close range header across goal into the far corner of the net. Adam Beasley replaced the injured Glyn Blackhurst in the 71st minute whilst on 76 minutes Egyptian signing Mahmood came on for Farquharson.. A Griggs strike flew off the back off a Spalding defender for a corner before Mahmood displayed a frightening turn of pace to fire a close range shot from which Doughty excelled to make the save. Four minutes from normal time, Ellison was called into rare action to save from a Garrick close range header whilst 3 minutes later, Nantwich midfielder Adam Beasley was dismissed for alleged violent conduct. Andy Kinsey followed into referee Mather’s book after the Nantwich striker persisted with protest at the official’s decision. Ellison then excelled when he reacted to Spalding left back Buckley’s 22 yard free kick by tipping one handed over the bar for a corner. From the resultant flag kick, the high incoming ball was well taken by the former Crewe Alex apprentice. Right on the stroke of normal time, Spalding right back Stanhope fired over from a corner but, Spalding were a well beaten side and in the process, Nantwich really didn’t have to extend themselves to extract their second of the season 4- 1 beating of the Lincolnshire club.

The win, plus results elsewhere, places Nantwich back in the play off positions ahead of Tuesday night’s clash at The Weaver Stadium against 8th in the table Carlton Town. Going into the night’s matches, five clubs headed by Nantwich share 48 points.

Nantwich head coach Steve Davis, who took the unusual step of viewing the match from the main stand said:- “ Quite simply, we outclassed them. But for better finishing, plus the run of the ball, 6 -0 would not have been a harsh score line at half time. I was disappointed with our second half performance. We stood off Spalding as opposed to the first half and conceded yet (another) sloppy goal. Tuesday against Carlton will be tougher and I am concerned with our discipline. To be blunt, it has to improve”.

Match report written by Phil Johnson