By Oliver Shorland, photos by Jonathan White
Nantwich Town succumbed to a late equaliser on Saturday afternoon, drawing 2-2 with Wythenshawe in a hard-fought game at the Swansway Stadium.
The opening twenty minutes saw plenty of half-chances for the home side.
Aidy Roxburgh was at the centre of it early, losing his defender before his cross was blocked by a Wythenshawe defender.
Roxburgh was able to find Jack Stafford just a few minutes later, with a wonderful switch of play, but the subsequent cross was sent behind for a corner.
Paddy Kennedy would be up to meet this one, but his headed attempt flew over the crossbar.
The attacking intent continued from Nantwich in the early stages of the first half, this time Will Smith getting in on the action.
The forward was able to win the ball back in a promising position, catching the Wythenshawe midfield off guard. His blocked attempt then nearly fell to Saunders, but he was unable to find his feet.
A troubling pattern would soon develop for the Dabbers, however, as Perry Bircumshaw was brought off with an injury.
A well-won corner saw the home side come closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half. Kennedy, with another free header, saw his attempt met with a stunning save from Ryan Forde.
The Dabbers would then be forced into yet another substitution as Ollie Pope went down after seemingly catching his foot in the turf.
Kennedy was then down not five minutes later, although the defender was deemed fit to continue.
Wythenshawe started the second half the better of the two sides, after failing to really test the Nantwich goalkeeper in the opening 45.
The tide would soon turn, however; a goalmouth scramble saw the ball eventually fall to Bruno Cina, who was there to put it away to make it one nil.
Cina would then show initiative straight from kick-off, blocking a Wythenshawe clearance and putting the ball into space before it was picked up by Ethan Hartshorn. The midfielder then showed composure to play Cina in, who slotted it home to make it two in two minutes, and just 19 seconds after play had restarted from the last goal.
Wythenshawe would soon nearly reduce the deficit, but Liam McCarron’s attempt was saved by Sam Booth at the near post.
The Dabbers would soon have a chance at the other end, a Joe Collins corner finding Callum Saunders, but it was headed wide.
The away side would then punish that missed opportunity, Joel Mumbongo finding joy on the left-hand side to reduce the Dabbers’ lead.
Nantwich would then strike back nearly immediately, Roxburgh’s strike rattling the post. Wythenshawe were suddenly reduced to ten after captain Sam Adewusi was dismissed for a second yellow card. The first booking was for the same offence; with the original source of the frustration being him and other Wythenshawe players claiming fouls on their team in the build up to both Nantwich goals.
The frenetic nature of the second half would conclude deep into added time, as Wythenshawe found the leveller from a free kick, which found the head of goalkeeper Forde. This was the first time in 27 years a goalkeeper had scored against Nantwich in a competitive game.
Luke Goddard’s side will now look towards facing league leaders Bootle on Tuesday evening, as they look to climb further up the table.
Teams:
Nantwich: Sam Booth, Aidy Roxburgh, Josh McWilliams, Ethan Hartshorn, Paddy Kennedy, Perry Bircumshaw (C) (Byron Moore 21’), Joe Collins (Iwan Roberts 82’), Callum Saunders (Collins Kagame 90+2’), Ollie Pope (Bruno Cina 29’), Will Smith, Jack Stafford
Unused Substitutes: James Baillie
Goals: Cina 59’, 60’
Wythenshawe: Ryan Forde, Luke Partington, Rocco Robinson-Bardsley, Joe Robbins (Vita Mbolokele 73’), Henry Carne, Josh Dickin (Eoin Charles 81’), Liam McCarron, Sam Adewusi (C), Joel Mumbongo, Finn Grady (Shahzad Sabree 63’), Darius Palma
Unused Substitutes: Jack Bannister, George Sankey
Red Card: Sam Adewusi 80’
Goals: Mumbongo 77’, Forde 90+7’
Attendance: 612