Nantwich Town 2
Sheffield FC 2 (4-1 on pens.)
League (NPL Div 1 South - Play-Off Final)

Match Report

UniBond League First Division South

Play-off Final

Saturday 3rd May.2008.

NANTWICH TOWN 2 v Sheffield FC 2 AET.
Glyn Blackhurst.32 Paul Smith.45
Dave Walker.71. Robert Ward.90+2.

Nantwich win 4 – 1 on penalties.

Referee: Mr. R.J Madley. Attendance: 1354.

Nantwich Town: Lee Jones. Paul Donnelly. Gyorgy Kiss (Walker.46). Richard Smith. Paul Taylor (Suhaj.82). Phil Parkinson © (Clements.72). Ashley Carter. Glyn Blackhurst. Andy Kinsey. Adam Beasley. Danny Griggs. Substitutes: Chris Clements. Dave Walker. Pavol Suhaj.

Sheffield FC: Jamie Holmshaw. Gavin Smith ©. Paul Smith. Mathew Lowton. Jon Boulter. Asa Ingall. Steven Hawes. Darryl Winter. Vill Powell. Stewart Copnell. Robert Ward. Substitutes: Mathew Roney. Jamie Smith. Peter Davey.

Nantwich were facing Sheffield for the fourth time this season but ahead of this crucial promotion final ‘The Dabbers’ had the edge with three victories to their credit. Meanwhile, on a gloriously sunny afternoon, a record attendance of 1,342 lined the Weaver Stadium to witness a potentially tense and thrilling contest between two sides that have been in the promotion frame for the majority of the season.

Well, there was certainly no shortage of drama in this match and from the whistle Blackhurst burst into the Sheffield box but, despite slow reaction by ‘The Steels’ they managed to clear the early threat from their hosts. However, four minutes into the opening period and play was suspended for at time following a collision between Nantwich left back Gyorgy Kiss and Sheffield front man Stewart Copnell – Kiss coming off the worst with a severe blow to his left knee and for a short period Nantwich were down to ten men. Kiss eventually returned to action but it was clear that he was struggling and the Hungarian did well to make it through the rest of the half.

Sheffield meanwhile were thwarted by ‘Dabbers’ midfielder Ashley Carter who dropped in defence to halt a ‘Steels’ attack down the Nantwich left before a move through midfield left Sheffield striker Vill Powell narrowly failing to get on the end of a downfield punt from Holmshaw but Lee Jones read the threat well and took control of the ball inside his 6 yard area. However, following the early flurry from the visitors chances came the way of Nantwich, first through Kinsey in the 8th minute that culminated in two corners – Beasley was then unlucky with an effort close to the right hand post whilst the injured Kiss delivered a tidy effort from deep that Holmshaw just managed to cover at his near post.

As the game approached the first quarter hour Nantwich were looking the stronger side and on 13 minutes Kinsey went close with a back header from close range but while Danny Griggs teasing of the Sheffield centre half’s looked promising he failed to hold the ball up long enough to play in the well placed Kinsey. At the other end Richard Smith made perfect timing to snuff out the challenge from Copnell before play was held up following a collision between Copnell and Phil Parkinson. When play resumed Griggs dead ball kick glanced off a defender leaving Holmshaw to produce a last ditch save on his line. On the half hour, Griggs was again prominent with a blistering shot that eased past the left hand post whilst two minutes later, Nantwich deservedly took the lead. During the build up, ‘The Dabbers’ constructed a great move down the Sheffield left with Beasley then clipping the ball into the path of Glyn Blackhurst leaving the Nantwich midfielder to fire a shot through a sea of legs that gave Holmshaw no chance from 12 yards out.

However, two minutes later Powell made a run deep toward the Nantwich left before squaring across the face of goal with a dangerous looking ball but, despite the presence of Sheffield midfielder Darryl Winter at the far post the pace of the ball proved too much for him to gain control. Meanwhile, a move in the 36th minute between Carter – Beasley and Kinsey led to Griggs gaining a corner before ‘Dabbers’ centre half Smith produced a mazy run from his own half and after brushing off four challenges produced a shot that fell a couple of yards wide of the target. However, five minutes before the break Sheffield threatened twice through Lowton – in the first attack Jones held the centre half’s 20 yard punt whilst in the second attempt, the Nantwich ‘keeper did well to punch clear from inside a crowded 6 yard box. However, Sheffield weren’t to be denied and following a corner right on the stroke of half time Robert Ward got above the home defence to head over Jones into the roof of the net.

The injury to Gyorgy Kiss was sufficient to eliminate the combative left back from the second half, meanwhile Dave Walker came off the bench as his replacement and almost immediately Nantwich found themselves on the defensive as Powell sent in a dipping shot from the left that whistled inches past the far post. The home side then constructed a promising move out of defence that eventually left Carter winning a corner off Holmshaw before Walker just failed to connect a head to a descending ball that left Holmshaw punching clear some 12 yards off his line. Meanwhile, Beasley was on hand to pick up the loose ball but then lost out in a defensive tussle. On the hour, Sheffield made a change in attack that saw Copnell replaced by Jamie Smith and moments later Nantwich were living on the edge in defence when first Powell struck from close range with a ball that flashed across the face of goal but there was no Sheffield player on hand to tuck the ball home at the far post.

At the other end, Beasley and Walker were unlucky with well placed shots from around the edge of the box but the unluckiest shot of all came from Beasley who crashed a 25 yard pile driver on target that despite having the beating of Holmshaw struck the underside of the bar before flying to safety. In the 70th minute ‘The Dabbers’ crafted a five man move that culminated in a corner and when Griggs flag kick came in it flashed across the face of goal before clearance on the opposite flank. But, the momentum paid a dividend and a minute later Dave Walker emerged from a five man move that began in midfield to open a gap between the centre of the Sheffield defence to fire Nantwich back into the lead. A minute later however and the home side were pressed into a change in midfield when club captain Phil Parkinson (hernia) was forced to retire. Meanwhile, on loan Crewe Alex midfielder Chris Clements came on as his replacement before Walker threatened with a downward header leaving Holmshaw to go down on his line to make good the save.

Sheffield attempted to hit back and in the 76th minute Jones did well to hold a looping header from midfielder Asa Ingall whilst an effort from substitute Peter Davey looked to be en route toward the town centre! However, the game was now in its latter stages and pressure was building on both sides. Both sides made late changes before the signal was given for 5 minutes of added time. And it was the visitors who took advantage of a corner in the second minute of added time when Robert Ward rose highest in a crowded box to place a powerful header into the roof of the net to send the game into extra time.

In a summary of extra time Nantwich were lucky to escape when a Jamie Smith shot zipped across the face of goal, fortunately, no Sheffield player was on hand to tuck the ball home at the far post. At the other end, Pavol Suhaj wasted a good pass in the box from Griggs before Clements collected on the left and then advanced unchallenged on goal before disappointing when he placed a close range shot too low, striking Holmshaw on the chest and leaving the Sheffield custodian a chance to recover and hold the ball whilst in the 99th minute, Jones got down well to hold a Jamie Smith effort. Griggs broke from midfield to set up Kinsey a minute into the second period of extra time before his shot from the edge of the box was held. Meanwhile, in virtually the last Sheffield attack Clements did well from a position deep in defence to thwart the threat from Powell. So, without either side managing to break the deadlock the next stage was a penalty shoot-out in which Nantwich were nothing short of clinical. Earlier in April, they despatched Altrincham in a penalty shoot-out to win the Cheshire Senior Cup and were again successful when Andy Kinsey, Ashley Carter, Dave Walker and Richard Smith recorded perfect takes from the spot. Meanwhile, Sheffield’s Paul Smith was the only visiting player to beat Nantwich ‘Man of the Match’ Lee Jones who produced magnificent saves from both Gavin Smith and Mathew Lowton to send Nantwich Town into the Premier Division of The UniBond Football League next season and ‘The Dabbers’ second promotion in the space of two seasons.

An emotional Steve Davis said after a pulsating final. “That took a massive amount of character for us to overcome Sheffield. Pete (Hall) and I thought the lads were terrific and taking into account what we have done in our first season at this level, thoroughly deserve the step up to the Premier Division”.

Nantwich have been awarded the UniBond Football League First Division South ‘Club of the Month’ award for April/May 2008 after winning seven of their nine games against tough opposition including Sheffield FC in the play-off final and Altrincham in the final of the UniBond Cheshire Senior Challenge Cup.

Match report written by Phil Johnson