Durham City 0
Nantwich Town 2
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Date: Saturday 27th March.2010


DURHAM CITY 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 2
Darren Tinson. 11
Jake Sedgemore. 35

NANTWICH TOWN: Chapman. Aaron Carter. Flynn. Sutton. Tinson (c). Sedgemore. Jack (Southern 75). Blackhurst (Street 78). Whittaker. Lennon. Ashley Carter (McNulty 37). Substitutes: Southern. McNulty. Aspinwall. Street. McPherson.

Attendance: 163.

Following the departure of Peter Hall on Thursday Assistant Head Coach Kevin Street took charge for the visit to Durham City assisted by ‘Dabbers’ captain Darren Tinson. Meanwhile, the Nantwich were without Dave Tickle and Danny Griggs – both failing fitness tests ahead of the match.

Nantwich – playing with a very strong wind at their backs, won three corners in the opening minutes during which GLYN BLACKHURST’S close range shot was parried by Durham goalkeeper SCOTT McGUIRE before clearance downfield by a home defender.

GOAL: 11 Minutes. A cross from ASHLEY CARTER was put behind for a corner – JAKE SEDGEMORE’S flag kick headed into the roof of the net by DARREN TINSON to put Nantwich ahead.

Durham’s young side were certainly fleet of foot – full of running and energy and Nantwich had to be sharp in order to close them down. Meanwhile, the home side secured a corner in the 20th minute but Durham players were finding it difficult to control the ball in the strong wind whilst the bounce created by their plastic pitch didn’t help either side.

Nantwich had a great chance to extend their lead in the 25th minute – CHRIS FLYNN’S cross found MICHAEL LENNON but his close range header went straight at McGUIRE whilst at the other end ANDREW STEPHENSON’S effort was blocked by ‘Dabbers’ goalkeeper BEN CHAPMAN. LENNON was again unlucky when another FLYNN cross found the Nantwich front man but again McGUIRE was on hand to block the effort.

Nantwich were again to the fore through efforts from BLACKHURST, RODNEY JACK and LENNON and it looked only a matter of time before Nantwich increased their lead.

GOAL: 35 Minutes. ASHLEY CARTER was fouled 25 yards out – SEDGMORE taking a brilliant free kick that flew into the roof of the net to give Nantwich a two goal cushion.

Nantwich lost CARTER to injury picked up during the foul. LIAM McNULTY replacing CARTER wide right and within minutes of the change RODNEY JACK’S 35 yard pile driver whistled inches wide of the target as Nantwich continued to dominate.

HT: DURHAM CITY 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 2

Nantwich began the second half with the wind in their faces and almost immediately Durham won a free kick deep inside the Nantwich half – CHAPMAN flapped at the incoming ball but managed to take control before Durham could take advantage. At the other end, a WHITTAKER strike from distance edged wide of the target and then WHITTAKER again, this time from a free kick that just evaded the target by the narrowest of margins.

Play was delayed in the 70th minute for injury to BLACKHURST and when play resumed CHAPMAN was called into action to save from winger DAN SANDERS whilst STEPHENSON missed an early second half chance whilst for Nantwich WHITTAKER went again went close.

MICHAEL LENNON carved out two glorious chances in the 73rd minute but spurned both despite rounding the Durham ‘keeper on one occasion. Meanwhile, NATHAN SOUTHERN replaced JACK on 75 minutes at a time when Nantwich were still shading the action.

Nantwich then lost BLACKHURST to injury – KEVIN STREET then reshuffling his injury struck side before taking over the right back position from AARON CARTER with McNULTY moving from wide right into midfield.

Late on McNULTY broke from midfield before shooting from the edge of the box forcing McGUIRE to save on his line but despite a spirited effort by the division’s bottom club Nantwich ran out deserved winners in what is only their fifth win away from home so far this season.

FT: DURHAM CITY 0 v NANTWICH TOWN 2

Note: Marvin Robinson has been invited to return to the Nantwich squad. Robinson, along with Rodney Jack was released by former head coach Peter Hall 10 days ago. Jack was a starter at Durham whilst Robinson is expected to be in the squad for this coming weekend’s visit to Whitby Town. Despite their exit at the time Nantwich retained both players UniBond League registrations.

Match report written by Phil Johnson