By Liam Price
Luke Goddard recorded his first win as Nantwich manager with a 2-0 victory away at Chasetown.
He named an unchanged XI from the Cheshire Cup semi-final defeat in midweek, with new signing Adam Rooney on the bench along with the returning Jordan Hodkin and Perry Bircumshaw.
Byron Moore tested Curtis Pond with an early shot, and Pond had to be alert again when an Aidy Roxburgh low header almost snuck in at the far post after a cross from James Baillie.
After a bright start the game became a little scrappy; this was typified by a mad 5-minute spell where Scholars number 9 Joey Butlin could easily have picked up 2 yellow cards. He was booked for one late challenge but escaped punishment on the very similar second one.
Paddy Jarrett mishit a shot from the edge of the box and Pond was able to easily catch.
Joe Robbins then curled a shot over the crossbar as the Dabbers raised the pressure again.
Then Alex Panter brought another save from Pond late on in the half with a deflected shot from the angle.
It didn’t take long for the deadlock to be broken in the second half. A formation shift brought immediate dividends as a more central Panter was found in the box by Joel Connolly, brought it down on the chest and fired into the top corner. A classic Panter finish for his 21st of the season.
Chasetown curled a shot wide as they tried to strike back, but almost doubled the Dabbers’ lead via their own man as a Panter pullback in the box came off Nathan Cameron and bounced wide with Pond beaten.
New Scholars signing Tyrell Skeen-Hamilton forced Garratt into his first real save from a narrow angle but Ben had to be at his very best a few minutes later.
It was Skeen-Hamilton again, further out but more central than last time, who let fly with a great strike which Garratt did superbly to push over the bar. It was such a strong hand that it initially looked like it had hit the crossbar.
This was part of a period of real backs-to-the-wall defending that the Dabbers rode out very well; there were numerous well timed tackles and headers from Ben Hockenhull and Paddy Kennedy amongst others, with centre-back Rooney coming on late on to sure things up further.
That provided a platform for Nantwich to pounce on the counter-attack, which they did to great effect in the last 10 minutes. Hodkin, on off the bench, charged through after a Chasetown free kick went wrong and rolled the ball into the empty net for a first Dabbers goal for the young Crewe loanee. A great moment for him as he continues to build experience of senior football.
It was madness in the build up as the goalkeeper Pond was well inside the Dabbers half when he mishit a ball into the box, creating the easier moment for Hodkin. To do that with still over 10 minutes to go was a crazy decision whoever’s idea it was.
Hodkin had another couple of shots as you could see his confidence going through the roof after that goal, one again almost bouncing in off a Chasetown leg. And there was still time for more good Nantwich defending as James Baillie headed off the line to secure the win and the clean sheet.
Teams
Chasetown FC: Curtis Pond, Sam Wilding, Joe Dunne, Kieran Fenton, Nathan Cameron (C), Todd Ferrier (Dan Clarkson, 73), Brandon Newell (Owen Morgan, 82), Joe Thompson (Jordan Evans, 52), Joey Butlin, Kevin Spinelli (Tyrell Skeen-Hamilton, 52), Zach Findlay (George Cater, 25)
Nantwich Town: Ben Garratt, Aidy Roxburgh (Perry Bircumshaw, 78), James Baillie, Joe Robbins (Adam Rooney, 78), Ben Hockenhull, Paddy Kennedy, Alex Panter, Joel Connolly (C), Byron Harrison (Joe Collins, 78), Paddy Jarrett (Fenton Green, 62), Byron Moore (Jordan Hodkin, 68)
Goals: Panter (47), Hodkin (81)
Attendance: 456