By Jack Beresford
Tom Pratt’s 94th minute winner earns Dabbers all three points at Newcastle Town.
The hosts had the first opportunity of the game in the fourth minute when Tom Jones ran onto a through ball before shooting straight at Ben Garratt who raced off his line.
Newcastle came close again just moments later when Ollie Ritchie’s low cross found Jones who saw his effort blocked by Courtney Meppen-Walters after the Dabbers skipper threw himself in front of the shot.
The Dabbers had their first first half effort in the 20th minute when Cole Lonsdale’s deep cross was met by Meppen-Walters at the back post, but he could only head wide of the goal.
After having the brighter start, the hosts deservedly took the lead on the half hour mark when Ollie Ritchie’s low cross was finished well by Jake Avery who was unmarked in the penalty area.
However, their lead didn’t last long as The Dabbers replied immediately. James Melhado’s cross was dropped by Joe Slinn and Tom Pratt was on hand to hook home the loose ball to level the scores.
Three minutes before the break Newcastle came close again as Tom Jones received the ball on the edge of the box before dragging his effort wide of the far post.
On the stroke of half time Newcastle Town had yet another opportunity to regain the lead through Tom Jones. He broke through the Dabbers back line and was in on goal. However, Ben Garratt raced off his line and saved well with his legs.
In a half filled with opportunities it was the Dabbers who had the final chance of the first half. Cole Lonsdale showed good skill down the left to work space for a cross that was met by Callum Saunders, but his close range header saved excellently by Slinn in the Newcastle Town goal.
The first chance of the second half fell to the Dabbers, Callum Saunders won the ball in the offensive third before exchanging passes with Kofi Moore, and then eventually teeing up Matt Tweedley who saw his low effort saved by Joe Slinn.
The hosts had to wait until the 74th minute of their first effort of the half. A cross was cleared as far as Carlos Dos Santos on the edge of the box who took a touch and blazed an effort well over Ben Garratt’s goal.
The second half was much more open than the first with neither side having as many clear cut opportunities. However, the hosts did have a golden opportunity to seal the three points in the 88th minute when Tommy Van Der Laan found himself in on goal and six yards out but his low effort was superbly saved by Ben Garratt who made himself big blocked the shot from point blank range.
The save proved to be vital as The Dabbers won the game in the 94th minute in the most dramatic fashion. Second half sub Byron Harrison got onto the end of a long ball before heading into the path of Tom Pratt who was on hand to head over the keeper and earn all three points for the Dabbers with was virtually the last kick of the game.
TEAM NEWS:
Newcastle Town: Joe Slinn, Jack Derbyshire (Guilherme Baltazar 77’), Oliver Ritchie, Tommy Van Der Laan ©, Thomas Thorley, Kyle Stubbs, Isaac Graham (Jack Sherratt 74’), Carlos Dos Santos, Jake Avery (Eric Byrne 70’), Tom Jones, Jacob Twyford.
Subs not used: Harry Lutakome, Nathan Barry.
Nantwich Town: Ben Garratt, James Melhado, Cole Lonsdale, Kelvin Mellor, Courtney Meppen-Walters ©, Patrick Kennedy, Eddie Servuts (Peter Moore 69’) Callum Saunders (Byron Harrison 62’), Tom Pratt, Kofi Moore (Gio Loureiro 84’)
Subs not used: Cheyyane Loureiro.
Attendance: 265