By Oliver Shorland, photos by Peter Robinson
Nantwich came out on the wrong end of a penalty shootout after the match finished 1-1 after extra time in their FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round replay with Sporting Khalsa on Tuesday evening, bringing this season’s Cup journey to an end at the first hurdle.
Dabbers manager Luke Goddard made four changes to the side that earned a late draw in the West Midlands on Saturday, with new captain Harry Davis marking his first appearance for the club since returning.
The opening fifteen were marked by a few mistakes from Nantwich, which can surely be put down to early season nerves.
It came as no surprise that the first opportunity of the game fell to the away side, but the attempt rolled gladly into the hands of Yusuf Mersin in goal.
Khalsa failed to capitalise on any early momentum they had, though, as it was a mistake of their own which found Joe Collins in space in the middle of the box, where he was able to roll the ball past a helpless Brandon Ganley.
Nantwich nearly doubled their lead after pressure from Bruno Cina saw the ball fall to Aidy Roxburgh, but Ganley denied the Dabbers a second time around.
Goddard’s side ended the half strongly with a concerted period of pressure in the final fifteen, beginning on the half-hour mark when the ball found Fenton Green at the edge of the box corner but sending his attempt ballooning over the crossbar.
Nantwich had another opportunity to double their lead soon after through Ollie Pope, a lovely flick-on by Bruno Cina teed him up, but he was unable to set himself as he was charged down by a Khalsa defender.
It was the same again for the Dabbers in the opening exchanges of the second half.
A smattering of chances would come the Dabbers’ way, the best of which was created by substitute Liam Fitzpatrick, who scooped the ball into the centre of the area but Collins was unable to get on the end of it to double his tally for the day.
The tide would soon turn, however, as it was Sporting Khalsa who looked the more likely to find the back of the net.
A well-worked set piece found its way to Harvey Smith, whose attempt was deflected over.
As the away side turned up the heat on the Dabbers, Perry Bircumshaw found himself in the referee’s bad books as he picked up a booking with just shy of 10 minutes to go.
The subsequent teasing free kick for Sporting Khalsa was flashed across goal with no one in a Khalsa shirt brave enough to take the gamble, as it raced away to safety.
Against the run of play, Nantwich were nearly able to kill the game off; a great ball by Fitzpatrick managed to find its way to the boot of Callum Saunders, who flashed it wide of the mark.
This was followed up soon after by a driving attempt by Joe Piggott which was fumbled by Ganley in the Khalsa goal, but no one in green was able to pounce on the opportunity.
As the clock ticked down, the game became very fraught and bitty for both sides as Nantwich desperately tried to keep the ball as far away from goal as possible.
Their efforts wouldn’t prevail, however, as Bircumshaw brought down a Khalsa attacker in the box in the dying moments to give away a penalty, which also led to the defender’s dismissal for a second yellow card. It later became clear that the yellow came not for the foul itself but for dissent to the referee in questioning the decision.
Smith was then able to convert for the away side, firing it down the middle to level things up.
As extra time began, Sporting Khalsa picked up where they left off, banging on the Dabbers’ door, forcing three saves out of Mersin in the Nantwich goal.
In the second period of extra time it was Ganley’s time to be tested; a pair of half volleys from the Dabbers forced the opposition goalkeeper into some outstanding acrobatics to keep the home side out.
But that was to no avail as penalties loomed.
A perfect first three from both sides saw Piggott, Baillie and captain Harry Davis convert.
The Dabbers then had the opportunity to take the lead as Ganley blasted his attempt over the crossbar for Khalsa.
Liam Fitzpatrick then duly obliged, slotting his effort away.
A perfect penalty from Shaw then put all the pressure on Callum Saunders to win it for the Dabbers, but he saw his effort smothered, bringing the two sides to sudden death.
McKay and Mikkel Hirst with the next two kept the sides level pegging before Kanu put all the pressure back on the Dabbers by slotting away the seventh.
Then stepped up Paddy Kennedy to try and keep the Dabbers in it, but he saw his effort saved, with the Dabbers exiting the FA Cup as a result.
Luke Goddard’s side will now attempt to get back on track in their first league fixture of the season against Prescott Cables on Saturday afternoon.
Teams
Nantwich Town: Yusuf Mersin, Aidy Roxburgh (James Baillie, 65), Perry Bircumshaw, Joe Piggott, Harry Davis (C), Paddy Kennedy, Ollie Pope (Byron Moore, 88), Joe Collins (Ethan Hartshorn, 74), Bruno Cina (Callum Saunders, 65), Fenton Green (Mason McKay, 100), Iwan Roberts (Liam Fitzpatrick, 57)
Subs not used: Zac Prior (GK)
Goal: Joe Collins (18)
Red card: Bircumshaw (90+2)
Penalties: Joe Piggott, James Baillie, Harry Davis, Liam Fitzpatrick, Mason McKay
Sporting Khalsa: Brandon Ganley, Kristian Green (C), Mikkel Hirst, Che Ranger, Kyle Burke, Ryan Shaw, Luke Shearer (Harvey Smith, 56), Peter Taylor (Rhys Halliday, 77), Isai Marselia (Kai Cunningham, 57), Kieron Wittaker, Macca Taylor (Abu Kanu, 65)
Subs not used: Sam Griffiths, Rio Sawyers
Goal: Harvey Smith (90+3)
Penalties: Harvey Smith, Kyle Burke, Kristian Green, Ryan Shaw, Mikkel Hirst, Abu Kanu
Attendance: 267