Written by Adam Bateman, photos by Jonathan White
Whitby Town claimed their first three points of the season with a 2-0 win over Nantwich Town at the Swansway Stadium.
After a fantastic win last time out against Stalybridge, and under the new management team of Ritchie Sutton and Gary Taylor-Fletcher, the home side were looking to pick up three more very valuable points.
Under overcast skies, and typical early autumn weather, the match kicked off with both sides looking to start on the front foot.
It was the visitors who had the first couple of half chances through Jacob Day, and Michael Spellman, thankfully they were off target and blocked respectively, that was a warning for the home side though.
A warning that sadly they did not heed, as after just nine minutes, Whitby took the lead through Malik Dijksteel, he collected the ball, and with a fantastic turn he evaded his marker, and his shot which went across Louis Gray in the home goal, found its way into the back of the net.
The delight of the travelling supporters was very much in evidence, after what had been so far a very tricky start to their season.
The home side looked to respond through the very bright and lively James Plant on his debut (pictured below), but his shot went just over the bar.
From here the Dabbers looked to pile the pressure on, and to find an equaliser, and they played some lovely football, and did create chances, the first one came from Connor Heath, but his shot was deflected wide, then Perry Bircumshaw saw his shot saved by Shane Bland in the away goal.
Then probably the best chance to equalise came from A-Jay Leitch-Smith, after very good work down the flanks, the ball came in, and his acrobatic shot went inches wide.
Connor Heath was at it again, as his brilliant low cross just missed his teammates running in, the pressure was building for that equalising goal.
Matt Bell was next to try his luck, with a free-kick that was expertly tipped over the bar, and just before half time Connor Heath was very unfortunate to see his shot not go in (pictured below).
But at the break, Whitby’s goal somehow remained intact, but there was plenty for the home side to be proud about.
At the start of the second half, Shaun Miller came on for Jack Sherratt, as Ritchie Sutton tried to find that elusive equalising goal.
It was Whitby who had the first chance of the second half, as Michael Spellman saw his shot go over Louis Gray’s bar.
Whitby remained dangerous on the break however, and Jacob Day tested out the Nantwich backline with a shot, that went just wide, that was a wake up call that Nantwich wouldn’t have things all their own way, and after Matt Bell saw his shot go wide, the sucker punch happened, Whitby went down the right hand side, and after a fantastic cross, Michael Spellman saw his diving header firmly planted into the back of Louis Gray’s net.
That seemed to deflate the home side somewhat, as after all of their dominance and good play prior to that goal, they seemed to run out of ideas after it.
Ritchie Sutton’s men, try as they might, couldn’t seem to find the same tempo or gusto, and at the full time whistle, it was the away side that came away delighted to have their first win of the season, whereas Nantwich suffered a cruel defeat.
They will have to pick themselves up for their next game on Tuesday, away to Hyde United, as they look to get their season back up and running once more.
Teams
Nantwich Town: Louis Gray, Troy Bourne, Perry Bircumshaw, Joel Stair, Jon Moran, Matt Bell (Kobe McWilliams, 78), Connor Heath (Sean Lawton, 78), Jack Sherratt (Shaun Miller, 46), A-Jay Leitch-Smith, Sean Cooke, James Plant
Subs not used: Jack Williams, Jacob Edwards
Whitby Town: Shane Bland, Soni Fergus, Coleby Shepherd, Priestley Keithley, Daniel Rowe, Aaron Cunnigham, Harry Green (Jake Hackett, 78), Lewis Hawkins, Jacob Day (Bradley Fewster, 86), Malik Dijksteel (Aaron Haswell, 70), Michael Spellman
Subs not used: Jonathan Burn, George Scaife
Goals: Dijksteel (10), Spellman (58)
Attendance: 353