Nantwich Town’s Under-18s are through to the next round of the FA Youth Cup with a 1-0 victory over West Didsbury and Chorlton.
Lewis Martin nearly took advantage of a high West Didsbury line in the very first minute, racing in behind and trying a lob that didn’t have the required height to get over Ethan Ellarby, who was off his line.
Bradley Gibson had some success down the right side, just miscuing a pullback after beating his man comfortably.
Ellarby was well pressured by Archie Angles and only just managed to clear the ball, the keeper learning his lesson and not dallying on it for the rest of the match.
Gibson created the best opening yet when he chased down a seemingly lost ball, showing great pace to get there and create an opening for himself that was squeezed behind for a corner. From that corner, Angles saw the ball bounce before him but his shot was bravely charged down by Ellarby who also held well.
The Dabbers again were pressing effectively, led once more by Angles who nicked the ball off a defender and won a free kick that was blasted off target.
West Didsbury’s best opening came from George Jamieson who fired high and wide when there was space to run in to in the right back position.
Keiran Prestwich had Nantwich’s last notable effort of the half, curling towards goal from distance but seen all the way by Ellarby.
West Didsbury started much better in the second half, Imran Balogun setting the tone with a long range effort that didn’t miss by much.
Balogun had a bigger chance a few minutes later, similarly to Martin in the first half he tried the dink over George Billingham, this time it dropped over the bar.
Then, a huge chance for the Dabbers. A crazy pinball moment saw the ball ricochet to Martin whose eyes lit up but he couldn’t control his effort and it flew over.
Boardman was then the latest to try from range, again it was off target and you wondered why West Didsbury continued to try these low percentage shots.
A lovely Dabbers move was the next to nearly break the deadlock. Thomas Horton’s pinpoint diagonal ball found Angles, his cross was directed towards Martin but nicked off his feet by a Didsbury defender.
The following corner was headed just wide by Taylor, then a minute later Martin was in again, Ellarby dealing well to close down and block him.
The momentum was back with the Dabbers, but with all these smart attacking moves it ended up being an old fashioned set piece that proved decisive.
Sub Luke Platt won a corner after a West Didsbury defender nearly turned his cross into his own net. The corner was placed right on the goalkeeper’s head, he and the defence couldn’t deal with it, and the skipper Riley Capewell was there to put the ball away and spark great celebrations among the team and the crowd that was made up largely of players’ family and friends.
Angles nearly killed the tie with a low shot that drifted agonisingly wide, but overall this was a deserved if nervy victory for the young Dabbers who head into the next round, stay tuned to the website and our social media for our next opponents.
Teams
Nantwich Town: George Billingham, Thomas Horton, Callum Craven, Kian O’Neil, Riley Capewell (C), Keiran Prestwich, Haturo Greenland, Samuel Taylor, Lewis Martin (Freeman, 88), Archie Angles, Bradley Gibson (Luke Platt, 71)
Subs not used: Brooks, Simcock, Crane, Cope
Goal: Capewell (78)
West Didsbury and Chorlton: Ethan Ellarby, Mason Kennedy, Callum Boyd, Curtys Anibie, Kyle Boswell (Sher Yar, 80), Kyle Boardman, George Jamieson, Max Mills (Daniel Kramer, 64), Aayan Zeeshan (Rashid, 71), Imran Balogun
Subs not used: Worsley, Freear, Holmes-Littler, Withers