Written by Dan Jackson, photos by Jonathan White
A-Jay strike gives Dabbers their much needed first win of the season
As summer moves into autumn, replacements were forced onto the first team, and a switch of personnel in the dug-out, change was very much in the air at Nantwich Town on Tuesday night as they faced off against fellow league strugglers, Belper Town.
Following the mutual termination of Dave Cooke’s contract on Monday, Assistant Manager and current centre-half Ritchie Sutton took his place in the dug-out to oversee the fixture. He wasted no time in making changes. Shaun Miller started his first game of the season, A-Jay Leitch-Smith was recalled and Jack Sherratt played out wide on the left.
However, despite the changes, the football remained very much the same and the first half offered little in the way of chances. It was clear to see why both sides have struggled to pick up points so far early into the season. The loudest cheers of the first half being when the ball hit the referee, Barry Lamb, remarkably on two separate occasions, causing play to be halted. Fortunately, Lamb was fine except for a bruised ego.
Change was afoot in the second half. The Dabbers came out much improved after the break and enjoyed a great spell of dominance over the away team. Connor Heath began to enjoy some real success down the right side leading to two dangerous chances which saw smart saves from the Belper keeper, Max Culverwell.
Leitch-Smith added further pressure when he loosely connected with a shot whilst tumbling backwards which led to panic in the Belper goalmouth before Culverwell somehow clawed away a bobbling shot destined for the goal. (pictured below)
Despite their efforts and large spells of possession Nantwich failed to stamp their authority onto the game and the away team inevitably came back into the match on the hour mark. Perry Bircumshaw sliced his clearance allowing Luke Mangham to run onto the ball and pass across the box to the awaiting Litchfield. In acres of space a goal seemed inevitable before Troy Bourne made a goal saving block, sliding in front of the Belper forward and deflecting his shot over the crossbar.
The Nantwich Town players had clearly been instructed to press and battle through the night, but their physical efforts were beginning to tell whilst Belper Town Manager, Grant Black, continued to force the game by making the most of his substitutes. A luxury Sutton couldn’t afford given the growing injury list at the club.
With the game moving into the final phase, a flick on from Heath down the right wing was smartly left by Miller, knowing full well he was offside, which prompted the wide man to run onto his own pass and cross for Leitch-Smith who stuck a much-welcomed strike into the Belper Town goal. 1-0 to The Dabbers on 78 minutes.
The visitors reminded Nantwich there was still a game to see out as Tempest fired a dangerous ball across the Nantwich box moments later. However, the home side managed to hold out and bring home a deserved three points.
Attendance: 241
Nantwich Town: Gray, Bourne, Lawton, Bircumshaw, Moran, Bell (C), Heath, Robbins, Miller (’84 Mwasile), Leitch-Smith (‘90+3 Harrison), Sherratt
Subs not Used: Hawkins, Sutton, Castellano
Belper Town: Culverwell, Ariely, Aisthorpe, Wilson, South (C), Middleton, Robson (’55 Mangham), Middleton, Peterson (’69 Fogarty) , Litchfield, Reany (’75 Tempest)
Subs not Used: Ubah, Gibson