By Oliver Shorland, photos by Jonathan White
Nantwich Town fell to a 2-1 defeat to Atherton Collieries on a windy Saturday afternoon at the Swansway Stadium.
The game got off to a scrappy start, with Atherton having the first real chance, but it was sent wide by Harry Forshaw.
Nantwich then thought they’d taken the lead through a fantastic Ollie Pope header, but the lineman’s flag put any Dabber jubilation on hold.
Atherton would soon have the chance to go ahead themselves though as Blake Wolsoncroft spilt it after pressure from Kielen Adams, but the Nantwich defence would save the goalkeeper’s blushes.
Aidy Roxburgh was amongst it for the Dabbers once again; not long after, the fullback’s cross would eventually fall to Ethan Hartshorn, who fired his chance over.
Liam Sheppard would then try the spectacular in an attempt to put the away side in front, but his half-volleyed attempt soared wide.
Just after the halfway mark, another cross would come off the boot of Roxburgh, but Josh Hancock’s looping header was always floating away from goal.
The home side looked threatening late into the first half, with Hancock having another attempt which the goalkeeper was only able to tip onto the crossbar.
At the third time of asking, Hancock would find the back of the net though.
Roxburgh cut inside just past the halfway line before playing in Hancock, who slid it past Bardsley.
Atherton would start the second half in the ascendancy, a series of good blocks from Paddy Kennedy keeping the home side’s lead intact.
More chances would follow for the away side; Sheppard became a real thorn in the side of the Nantwich defence, forcing Wolsoncroft into several good stops.
With twenty minutes left on the clock, Sheppard would be given a golden opportunity to level things up after Joe Piggott brought down Adams in the box.
And despite Wolsoncroft diving the right way, he couldn’t keep Sheppard out any longer, who made it 1-1.
Atherton would then nearly take the lead just minutes later, the woodwork coming to Nantwich’s aid again after a long-distance strike from Aaron Bennett.
Bennett, not to be denied by the post a second time, would then curl one in not long after to complete the comeback.
The Dabbers would have the chance to equalise late on; a well dug-out cross from Byron Moore found the head of Joe Collins, but his effort was straight at Bardsley, and the scoreline remained unchanged.
Luke Goddard’s side will now look to get back to winning ways away at Newcastle Town next Saturday.
Teams:
Nantwich: Blake Wolsoncroft, Aidy Roxburgh (James Baillie 84’), Jack Stafford, Ethan Hartshorn, Harry Davis (C), Paddy Kennedy, Will Smith (Zack Stritch 71’), Joe Piggott, Bruno Cina (Joe Collins 68’), Josh Hancock, Ollie Pope (Byron Moore 84’)
Unused Substitutes: Iwan Roberts
Goal: Josh Hancock 44’
Atherton: Harvey Bardsley, Niall Battersby, Fenton Davies (Freddie Gordon 84’), Mo Ali, Essa Janneh, Ben Rydel (C), Jake Lewis (Aaron Bennett 52’), Rodney Ajayi, Liam Sheppard, Kielen Adams, Harry Forshaw (Jack Sloan 52’)
Unused Substitutes: Luke Nock, Javid Swaby-Neavin
Goals: Liam Sheppard 71’ (P), Aaron Bennett 81’
Attendance: 335