After getting back to winning ways on Tuesday at Cheadle Heath Nomads, The Dabbers travelled to Hurst Cross to face Ashton United, a team who they were beaten 2-1 by just seven days ago.
Head coach Gary Taylor-Fletcher said that his side fully deserved their win against Ashton United “We asked them to enjoy the battle of attacking and trying to break them down, We asked them to enjoy the battle of defending as a team and today for 90 minutes they have done both, we fully deserved the win”
Gary and manager, Ritchie Sutton would have been pleased to welcome back Troy Bourne and Caspar Hughes as they returned to the starting XI following suspension and injury. Recent signings Byron Harrison and Mwiya Malumo were also both handed their full league debuts for the club.
After conceding inside one minute against Ashton in the last fixture between the sides, it was crucial that The Dabbers concentrated from the get-go. After just six minutes Darius Osei had the first chance of the game but his deflected effort was straight at Tom Booth in the Dabbers goal. The Dabbers’ first chance came just minutes later when Ashton keeper Greg Hartley rushed off his line to clear but it only went as far as Malumo but his effort from 25 yards was well wide of the open goal. On the 20 minute mark, Moldovan midfielder Ivan Urvantev volleyed towards goal but it excellently tipped over by Hartley. After was a pretty poor in first half in tough conditions we were even at the break with both sides knowing that there was still plenty to play for in the second half.
Nantwich Town striker Dan Cockerline has been out for a while with a shoulder injury and he was on the scoresheet in our Cheshire Cup victory in midweek. In the 57th minute he grabbed his second goal in as many games to give The Dabbers the lead. A low cross was met by Cockerline, but his first effort was blocked before the rebound fell kindly for him and he tucked home into the bottom corner much to the delight of the travelling Dabbers. After the game, Gary Taylor-Fletcher was full of praise for the big striker “We know how good Cockers can be, we’ve been desperate to get him back. To have him back on the pitch is what we want and what we need”
The hosts had a great opportunity to level the scores just seconds after going behind as Osei broke the offside trap and raced through on goal but once against Tom Booth was there to save well and keep his clean sheet intact. The Dabbers were defending excellently, they were throwing their bodies on the line and showing the fight and desire that was missing at the beginning of the season. As the game entered the dying embers it Ashton United had one more chance to draw level as Lonsdale fired a low cross across the face of goal and somehow it was diverted over the bar from a yard out.
Much to the relief of the travelling support, That proved to be the last kick of the game and The Dabbers picked up a much needed three points which will hopefully now kickstart their season. The Dabbers are next in action on Saturday 12th November as they host third placed Gainsborough Trinity at The Swansway Stadium
LINE UPS:
Ashton United
- Greg Hartley
- Aidan Roxburgh
- Cole Lonsdale
- George Milner
- Matty Regan
- Sam Baird
- Ben Hardcastle
- Ben Hough (Callum Saunders 58’)
- Jack Kenny
- Darius Osei
- Joe Robbins
Subs not used:
Max Harrop, Tom Warren, Harry Coates, Niall Battersby
Nantwich Town
- Tom Booth
- Perry Bircumshaw
- Sean Lawton
- Troy Bourne
- Harry Nevin
- Caspar Hughes
- Mwiya Malumo
- Matt Bell
- Dan Cockerline
- Ivan Urvantev (Curtis Morrison 63’)
- Byron Harrison (Shaun miller 85’)
Subs not used:
Jack Sherratt, Levi Chiduka, Kobe McWilliams