Nantwich Town 5
Boston United 0
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

RAMPANT DABBERS THRASH BOSTON

Boston United were hammered 5-0 by a rampant Nantwich Town outfit on Tuesday evening.

The Pilgrims found themselves trailing after eight minutes and their evening went from bad to worse from that moment onwards.

Nantwich bossed proceedings throughout and played some exhilarating football at times, but the Pilgrims were well below par as they slipped to a second successive 5-0 defeat at the hands of the Dabbers.

However, as bad as things got during the night, the Pilgrims know that three points from Saturday’s final day clash against Cammell Laird will secure their Premier Division future.

United got the game under way and good early play between Jon Froggatt and David Farrell resulted in the latter whipping over an excellent cross and Adam Millson was only beaten to the header by Darren Tinson’s last-gasp intervention.

Nantwich took the lead in the eighth minute when Michael Lennon tapped the ball home from close-range, after Aaron Butcher could only parry Glyn Blackhurst’s angled shot.

The post saved Boston from further damage two minutes later when Lennon rattled the goal frame from 12 yards, before Matt Bloomer and Paul Ellender combined to hack the ball clear.

Nantwich had a goal ruled out when Lennon prodded the loose ball home from an offside position, following Ashley Carter’s free-kick.

Boston were forced into their first change in the 21st minute when Ryan Clarke replaced the injured Millson.

The Pilgrims had another let-off when Butcher and Bloomer denied Lennon in quick succession on the line, following Dave Walker’s cross from the right.

Boston thought the had found an equaliser when Miller darted into the box, before drilling across goal and against the far post, courtesy of a fantastic fingertip save from keeper Lee Jones.

Nantwich doubled their lead in the 33rd minute when Walker swept home the loose ball from 12 yards, after Rodney Jack’s corner had only been partially cleared.

The home side went close again when Walker drilled goalwards from another corner, but Tom Matthews was well-positioned to hack his drive to safety.

Boston offered a rare threat going forward when Ben Sedgemore tested Jones from 25 yards, but the Nantwich keeper saved well.

Nantwich extended their lead two minutes after half-time when Walker rounded Butcher to roll the ball into an empty net from a narrow angle.

The home side almost went further ahead in bizarre circumstances when Steve Melton blocked Blackhurst’s drive up and over, via the top of the crossbar.

Boston went close when Matthews tested Jones from distance, but the Nantwich keeper saved well.

Lennon ghosted in to add Nantwich’s fourth when he nodded home from close-range, following Mark Beeston’s long throw from the right.

Butcher had to be alert to grab substitute Andy Kinsey’s attempted lob from 25 yards, after Blackhurst had surged through the visiting defence at will.

The Pilgrims tried to stem the flow and their attempts were successful until the 90th minute when Kinsey headed home Danny Griggs’ inviting corner.

Nantwich (4-4-2): Lee Jones; Mark Beeston, Darren Tinson, Charlie O’Loughlin, Dave Tickle; Ashley Carter, Dave MacPherson, Glyn Blackhurst, Rodney Jack (Danny Griggs 60); Dave Walker (Dave Whittaker 72); Michael Lennon (Andy Kinsey 68). Subs (not used): Phil Parkinson, Rob Hawthorne.

Boston (4-3-1-2): Aaron Butcher; Tom Matthews, Liam Parker, Paul Ellender, Matt Bloomer (Nick Jackson 58); Ben Sedgemore (Mitchell Griffiths 58), Steve Melton, Adam Millson (Ryan Clarke 21); David Farrell; Jon Froggatt, Ricky Miller. Subs (not used): Michael Wood, Liam Green.

Match report written by Craig Singleton (www.bufc.co.uk)