Photos by Jonathan White and Peter Robinson
Nantwich and Avro shared the spoils with a 1-1 draw in an occasionally feisty fixture at the Swansway Stadium.
Scott Moloney was back in goal for the first time in over 2 months after recovering from a broken wrist and also competing with Danny Roberts for the number 1 shirt. Joel Connolly was deployed in midfield in the absence of Stevie Hewitt and Ahmed Ali.
Just 6 minutes were on the clock when Ethan Kershaw broke into the box and managed to find the corner from a narrow angle. It was an excellent finish to give Avro the lead but for the third game on the bounce the Dabbers had started sluggishly and conceded inside the first 10 minutes.
Deane Smalley was subbed early after taking a blow to the face and picking up a black eye in the process.
Troy Bourne headed wide with what was only a half chance, Paddy Kay had put the ball in as the Dabbers looked to build into the game.
In truth they didn’t look like creating much but just before half time their first real move of quality resulted in the equaliser.
Kai Evans set up Paddy Kay to finish tidily for his second goal in 4 games. Very much a confidence team, the Dabbers were buoyed by this and finished the half well, Kay again firing wide right before the whistle.
They also started the second half stronger. Joe Piggott was leading the line strongly, putting himself about and causing the Avro backline trouble. He turned his man on the edge of the box and fired not too far over. Max Harrop fired straight at Moloney shortly after as Avro responded.
Piggott was in there again but Grant Shelton got down bravely to claim a cross from Callum Saunders ahead of him.
Bourne battled well in the right corner and dug out a cross for Piggott who headed over.
That was as good as it got for Troy as he once again saw red on 70 minutes. He’d picked up a yellow for dissent 12 minutes earlier, then making a needless foul in the middle of the park which was pulled back by the referee after an advantage didn’t come to anything. Everyone knows the quality Bourne brings to the Dabbers but there’s no hiding the fact that that is his 3rd red card of the season in all competitions, and will be his 4th ban if you include the game missed for picking up 5 yellows.
Paul Carden afterwards didn’t really dispute Bourne’s red but rather bemoaned a lack of consistency in that Avro’s Max Harrop had a period after a first yellow card where he was in danger of losing his head and could easily have seen a second yellow himself.
There were also several other examples of dissent, including numerous instances of kicking or throwing the ball away, which all referees have been told to crack down on, not being punished.
Carden reacted to the red by sacrificing Saunders for Amir Tavakoli and had to shut up shop and hold fast for the final 20 minutes plus stoppages.
As Avro tried to make their man advantage count, Moloney was called into spectacular action late on. He somehow clawed away an effort that looked destined for the corner on 85 minutes.
Into stoppage time he was at it again, diving low this time to deny Matty Crothers at his near post. Moloney’s late heroics earned him the Dabbers’ man of the match and helped secure an encouraging point ahead of two must-win games against the current bottom 2 in the division.
Teams
Nantwich Town: Scott Moloney, Troy Bourne, Tyler Hill (Perry Bircumshaw, 68), Joel Connolly, Nathan Okome, Scott Butler, Jake Kirby, Paddy Kay, Callum Saunders (Amir Tavakoli, 72), Joe Piggott, Kai Evans (Akiel Raffie, 50)
Subs not used: Danny Roberts, Byron Harrison
Goal: Kay (43)
Red card: Bourne (70)
Avro FC: Grant Shelton, Bebeto Gomes, Kane Wallwork, Matthew Crothers, Geffry Ebhote, Deane Smalley (Tommy Lent, 12), Jake Cottrell, Ethan Kershaw, Kyle Hawley (Ben Wharton, 89), Max Harrop (Liam Ellis, 68), Sean Etaluku
Subs not used: Alex Frost, Jack Anderton
Goal: Kershaw (6)
Attendance: 413