By Oliver Shorland, photos by Peter Robinson
Nantwich Town picked up a first point of the new league campaign against Chasetown yesterday evening after late penalty drama earned the Dabbers a draw.
After an uneventful opening five minutes, it was the home side who had the first real opportunity of the game from the boot of Josh Hancock, whose corner was flashed across the box with no Nantwich player able to get on the end of it.
Another corner soon followed, with someone in green able to get something behind it this time, but Paddy Kennedy’s header was sent wide of the mark.
In a game of few chances in the opening fifteen minutes or so, Chasetown would fashion the next one; Tak Zambizi’s floated cross found Matt Hearsey, but he also managed to send it away from goal.
A few minutes later, the Dabbers would take the lead though; a counter-attack led by Ollie Pope saw him clip the ball over a Chasetown player before racing away down the byline.
Last week’s goal scorer would then turn provider as his cross was met by an onrushing Joe Piggott, who smashed the ball into the top-right corner.
The rest of the half would see a strong defensive performance from the Dabbers, with nothing coming for the away side.
It might have been two for Nantwich late in the first half; however, after Pope was able to capitalise on a mistake at the back for the visitors, the forward was unable to shift the ball onto his preferred right foot before he was eventually charged down by a Chasetown defender.
A speculative long-range effort from Paddy Kennedy soon after gave the Dabbers another opportunity to double up, but it was gathered easily by Pond in the Chasetown goal.
Nantwich started the second half as they ended the first, a teasing free kick floated in by Iwan Roberts missed everyone in green as the Pond jumped highest to collect the ball. Piggott had the chance to make it two this time from a corner, but his header ballooned over the bar.
A third chance of the half would soon follow.
Ethan Hartshorn was able to win it back from a lax Chasetown defence, playing it off to Roberts, who cut inside his defender but slammed his shot into the palms of the keeper.
Soon after, however, it would be the away side knocking on the door; Sambizi made a fool of his defender, but captain Harry Davis was there to atone for the mistake.
Davis wouldn’t be able to come to Nantwich’s rescue after the Nantwich defence tried time and again to get the subsequent corner clear before it fell to Hearsey, who put it away to level things up.
Against the run of play, it was another Chasetown slip-up that nearly allowed Nantwich to take back their lead as Pope was able to play in a flying Aidy Roxburgh, who flashed his effort inches wide.
Despite this, it was soon Groundhog Day for the Dabbers after a recycled free kick from the opposition allowed Hearsey to steal behind the Nantwich defence to tap home for his second of the evening.
It would nearly get even worse for Luke Goddard’s side as Zach Findlay was able to dance through the Dabbers’ midfield, but his effort at Yusuf Mersin was a tame one.
As time ticked away, nothing seemed to be coming for the home team, but just as stoppage time started Josh Hancock was brought down in the box, earning a late penalty for the home side.
Hancock saw his effort saved, but Pond was unable to hold onto it, and after two attempts on goal were blocked by the Chasetown defence, it was Fenton Green who was there to tap it past the keeper to level it again.
Luke Goddard’s side will return to league action next Tuesday at Vauxhall Motors, looking for their first win of the season.
Teams
Nantwich Town: Yusuf Mersin, Aidy Roxburgh, Liam Fitzpatrick, Joe Piggott (Fenton Green, 67), Harry Davis (C), Paddy Kennedy, Ollie Pope (Callum Sauders, 80), Ethan Hartshorn, Josh Hancock, Joe Collins (Byron Moore, 80), Iwan Roberts (Mason McKay, 67)
Unused Substitutes: James Baillie
Goals: Joe Piggott 19’, Fenton Green 90+2’
Chasetown: Curtis Pond, Olly Hayward, Zach Findlay, Tom Thorley (Jack Langston, 70), Ethan Patterson, Joel Kettle, Tak Zambizi, Kevin Montiero (C), Kyle Moseley (Matty Funge, 76), Logan Cousins (George Cater, 76), Matt Hearsey (Lachlan Suffell, 81)
Unused Substitutes: Nathan Cameron
Goals: Matt Hearsey 66’, 73’
Attendance: 434