By Liam Price, photos by Jonathan White
Nantwich Town recorded back-to back league wins for the first time since March and back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since January after a 3-0 win away at 1874 Northwich.
Joe Piggott missed out with a minor injury as Callum Saunders returned to the side after a knock of his own that saw him miss the win over Congleton. New signing Jack Stafford was on the bench and made his debut mid-way through the second half.
Ben Crane curled wide early on, with Josh Hancock and Tom Graves also off target for the Dabbers.
There were no shots on target until the 27th minute, when Luke Enright was found down the right channel and charged towards goal, only for ’74 keeper Max Beddow to do well to close the angle and make the save, a brave one too as he took a hit from Enright in the challenge.
The following corner brought a moment that wasn’t initially spotted. It looked like Enright had risen highest and headed cleanly wide, but the lens of Jonathan White clearly caught the ball hitting the hand of Niall Osborne in an unnatural position in the penalty area.
Saunders tried to recreate his great free kick from the Stafford game but Beddow was up to the task and parried his strike away.
A minute or so later, he wasn’t to be denied again. A ball through from Ethan Hartshorn into the path of Saunders was first hit into the chest by Brad Mundy when trying to clear, it bounced back into the path of Saunders who saw Beddow’s position and delicately lobbed it over him and in off his right foot.
James Simms fired straight at Cian O’Shea, but it was Nantwich who struck again not long before half time. It was a corner that caused chaos in the ’74 box, a couple of swings later and it was Hartshorn who shovelled it in from close range for his first Nantwich goal after signing in the summer.
Enright was bright again in this game, a couple more attempts came in from him early in the second half before he was withdrawn on the hour for Ollie Pope.
Hartshorn had another shot on target then Simms missed the target at the other end.
While ’74 were never given a foothold in the game, the points weren’t truly safe until the 72nd minute when Saunders got his second. It was Aidy Roxburgh with a whipped cross that Saunders met bravely with his head and Beddow couldn’t keep out at point blank range.
Saunders is now level in all time Nantwich goals with his former team-mate Byron Harrison and by scoring two repeated his feat from the last time Nantwich played 1874 Northwich on New Year’s Day 2024.
The biggest chance to add a fourth fell to Pope, who was denied brilliantly by Beddow but probably should have scored. At the other end, O’Shea never had to make a serious save in the whole match.
The one low point came 4 minutes from time when Dabbers captain Harry Davis was sent off. A bit of a wrestle from a Nantwich corner left him and a ’74 defender on the floor. The scuffle continued as Davis tried to get up, then when the referee came in and showed him a yellow, his disagreement with that decision quickly earned him a second yellow.
A more proactive referee would have been on the scene quicker to diffuse the situation before it developed into that rather than just strolling in all cards blazing, but having said that it is another needless sending off and suspension for another vastly experienced member of the Dabbers squad after Hancock’s red on Tuesday.
It does not detract, though, from another dominant Nantwich win and some much needed momentum and positivity to take into the next few Dabbers games against stronger opposition.
Teams
1874 Northwich: Max Beddow, Joseph Blake, Niall Osbourne (C), Niall Fallon, Mike Ibeto, Blake Robinson, Ben Crane (Kenny Mwaliteta, 61), Brad Mundy (Matthew Wooley, 83), Kevin Spinelli (Jack Woolley, 89), James Simms, Evra Yao (Lewis Farmer, 61)
Sub not used: John McGrath
Nantwich Town: Cian O’Shea, Aidy Roxburgh (AJ Kandeke, 79), Tom Graves, Ethan Hartshorn (Joe Collins, 68), Harry Davis (C), Paddy Kennedy, Will Smith, Callum Saunders (Collins Kagame, 73), Luke Enright (Ollie Pope, 61), Josh Hancock, Perry Bircumshaw (Jack Stafford, 68)
Goals: Saunders (38′, 72′), Hartshorn (42′)
Red card: H.Davis (86′)
Attendance: 315