By Adam Bateman
Nantwich Town scored a 94th minute equaliser to secure a point in a crazy 3-3 game with Liversedge at the Clayborn Ground despite a second half performance that manager Ritchie Sutton described afterwards as ‘a complete disaster.’
The Dabbers were looking to get back to winning ways after the defeat to Matlock, as they made the trip to this part of Yorkshire for the first time ever.
Manager Ritchie Sutton decided to stick with the same starting eleven for this game, in which there were overcast and grey clouds overhead as the game kicked off, foretelling perhaps what was to happen in the game.
In the early moments of the game the visitors put some early pressure on the home side’s backline, and there was almost a chance at goal, but the defence held firm on that occasion.
Shortly thereafter Liversedge put pressure on Troy Bourne who fouled Joseph Walton in the penalty area, to give the home side a very early penalty, and a chance to take the lead.
Ben Atkinson stepped up, and duly smashed the penalty right down the middle, to the delight of the home fans, Liversedge were in front, and they deserved it at that stage.
From there though this seemed to awaken a dormant desire within the Nantwich players, as they roared back into the game, first up Tom Scully had a shot through a crowded home area, that Patrick Boyes did very well to save.
Then just after the tenth minute, Scully crossed in a free-kick, and Ryan Morton managed to find a way to beat the home goalkeeper to level the game up with his first goal for the Dabbers during his loan spell from Altrincham.
Soon after, Byron Harrison looked to have been fouled in the penalty area, but neither the referee nor the linesman decided in his favour.
The game was open ended as neither team were looking to close shop, both sides were looking to get another goal, which was good for the spectators at the ground.
On 25 minutes, the Dabbers put together a lovely flowing move, in which the ball found its way to Harrison out wide, and his low ball found Dan Cockerline, who put the ball into the net, to give Nantwich the lead.
The helter skelter action didn’t stop there though, as both sides continued to live very dangerously, as first Nicolas Walker had shot which was very well saved by Tom Booth in the Nantwich goal.
Then at the other end, Ryan Morton was looking very dangerous, and he had a shot which was saved, from there just before half time Jack Carr had a shot that tested Booth.
The action was almost like a basketball game, you have a chance, then we have a chance, back and forth.
To the relief of both managers, the half time whistle came, and it meant both could look to regroup, and as such, the Dabbers went in leading 2-1.
The half time team talks seemed to have revived Liversedge, as the home side seemed to come out with extra fire, and just like in the first half they almost scored within a matter of moments, but thankfully on this occasion that was stopped.
The ever dangerous Ryan Morton had a chance meanwhile for Nantwich, but he saw his shot saved, and from then on, the home side looked to get back into the game.
Nicolas Walker saw his shot saved by Booth, as the pressure was really starting to mount.
Then the dam broke as substitute Nathan Cartman tapped the ball into the goal to equalise for the home side.
Joseph Walton had a header that went wide, and it looked to be only a matter of time before Liversedge took the lead, and that duly happened when Kurtis Harris poked the ball home after a scramble in the penalty area.
It seemed as if all hope had been drained from the Nantwich players, but then after a late bit of handbags, the subsequent few extra minutes in added time paid off handsomely for the Dabbers, as James Caton scored the latest of late equalisers, to the jubilation of the away fans.
A point on the balance of play of the whole game, was probably a fair result.
Nantwich are next in action at home to Marske United on the 21st February.
Teams
Liversedge: Patrick Boyes, George Proctor, Jack Hardacre (Nathan Cartman, 58), Jack Stockdill, Daniel Ellis, Kurtis Harris, Casey Stewart, Benjamin Atkinson, Joe Walton, Nicolas Walker, Jack Carr (Shiraz Khan, 84)
Subs not used: Kevy Tarangadzo, Abdul Conteh
Goals: Atkinson (4, pen), Cartman (66), Harris (79)
Nantwich Town: Tom Booth, Perry Bircumshaw (Caspar Hughes, 76), Sean Lawton, Carl Dickinson, Troy Bourne, Tom Scully, Ryan Morton (Mo Malumo, 70), Steven Hewitt, Dan Cockerline, Byron Harrison, Adam Dawson (James Caton, 64)
Subs not used: Tom Scott, Curtis Morrison
Goals: Morton (13), Cockerline (26), Caton (90+4)
Atttendance: 355