Photos by Peter Robinson
Nantwich Town took a point from a crucial game against Stafford Rangers with a 1-1 draw at the Swansway Stadium.
After playing away to South Shields a mere forty-eight hours ago, manager Paul Carden made two changes to the side that came away with a very creditable one defeat against their high flying rivals on Saturday, with Dan Cockerline and Tom Scully coming in for Connor Evans and Caspar Hughes.
Nantwich were looking to secure all three points in this game, to at the very least take them out of the relegation zone for the time being.
With the wind picking up, and blowing very strongly from a west to east direction, the home side looked to try to use this to their advantage, and have Stafford on the back foot in the first half.
Both teams struggled early on to adapt to the ever changing conditions, one minute it was bright and sunny, the next there were really heavy showers.
The football suffered due to this, as neither side really found their footing, and neither really took control of the game.
The first proper chance came after twenty three minutes, as a Steven Hewitt free-kick from the far right of the area, saw him hit the side netting,
That for a large part of the game summed up how each side was playing, very cautious, and trying to fight against the conditions.
It wasn’t until just after the half hour mark when the first big talking point came to the forefront.
That was when Stafford opened the scoring, as Stafford moved the ball well down the flanks, and with a good low delivery, they scored, via Callum Saunders, who arrived at the back post, for a simple tap in from very close range.
It was the first true bit of quality from either side, and the away fans were jubilant.
This didn’t seem to knock Nantwich though, as they still tried to push on, and find an equalising goal.
Sean Cooke almost found it, his magic feet made it past three players, before his chance was cleared.
It looked as if it was going to be a very fine half for the visitors, however right before the half time whistle was blown, Nantwich did find an equaliser.
This time it was the Dabbers turn to play a bit of nice football, and the ball made its way out wide, for a cross to come into the penalty box, where Dan Cockerline had managed to make some space for himself, and to head the ball into the back of the net, as the opposition goalkeeper, Cameron Belford was in no man’s land.
That was the last kick of the half, and both sides could be equally happy and still find ways in which they could improve in the second half.
It was with the manager’s thoughts still firmly in their heads, that Nantwich looked to find a crucial and decisive second goal.
They perhaps were very, very unfortunate to not have found it, just six minutes into the half, as Dan Cockerline turned his marker very well, and fired into the top corner of the net, but only for Richard Abson, the referee to blow for a foul by Cockerline.
After this, the game got a bit scrappy and tense, as both sides looked to try to stamp their authority on the game, and there were some crunching challenges being put in by both sides to do just that.
With just twenty minutes left, it was almost Stafford that re-took the lead, as Kaiman Anderson rose highest from a cross, but his header went just wide of the far post.
There was then an agonisingly close moment in the seventy sixth minute, Nantwich managed to win a corner, and captain Troy Bourne looked to have timed his powerful header just right, as the ball hit the crossbar, bounced down and some thought over the line, but nothing given and the game continued. The photo below shows just how close it came.
From there, Stafford looked to re-group, and to prevent any more Nantwich chances, but they had one more themselves as Ethan Stewart found himself free at the back post, only to see his close range shot go wide, to the relief of the home fans.
The game then fizzled out, and it finished with both teams coming away with a point.
Nantwich are next in action away to Marske United on the 15th April, with the last home game on the 22nd April against Radcliffe.
Teams:
Nantwich:
Tom Booth, Aidan Roxburgh, Perry Bircumshaw, Nathan Okome, Jon Moran, Troy Bourne ©, Tom Scully, Steven Hewitt, Dan Cockerline, Sean Cooke, Byron Harrison.
Substitutes: Connor Evans, Joel Connelly, Mo Malumo, Ivan Urvantev, Liam Humbles
Stafford Rangers:
Cameron Belford, Andy Burns, Joe Dunne, Alex-Ray Harvey ©, Ethan Stewart, Derek Ubah, Ethan Morgan, Tom Tonks, Kaiman Anderson, Callum Saunders, Jack Baxter.
Substitutes: Nathan Blissett, Joe Willis, Tyreece Onyeka, Kieran Boucher.
Attendance: 631