By Liam Price, photos by Jonathan White and Peter Robinson
Nantwich Town remain unbeaten at home this season after an enthralling 3-2 win over Clitheroe at the Swansway Stadium.
The Dabbers were unchanged from the win at Trafford on Saturday.
Kelvin Mellor shot wide from distance inside the first 10 minutes.
The Dabbers’ danger this season has come mostly from the wings, and the first decent chance was no different. Aidy Roxburgh was found on the right and he quickly squared to Byron Harrison who tried to sweep it towards goal but saw it go off target.
Garratt punched away a Lewis Trickett free kick, and he and Garratt faced off again a few minutes later.
A long ball into the channel drew Garratt out, but the bounce of the ball favoured Trickett and he went past the Dabbers keeper. From distance and a narrow angle he went for goal but Perry Bircumshaw was there to calmly clear off his own goal line.
It felt like Clitheroe were the most likely to score and had more energy in their legs. But it was the Dabbers who struck first and in some style.
Fenton Green received the ball from Alex Panter and after a couple of touches let fly with his left foot. The dipping, swerving shot completely bamboozled the Clitheroe keeper James McClenaghan and flew in high into the middle of the net.
Josh Briggs, who’s already scored a couple this season from left back, tested Garratt with a low shot in the last 5 minutes of the half.
There was still time for the visitors to level things before the half time whistle. Briggs was heavily involved again, running down the left and putting in a low ball that was asking to be put in, and it promptly was by Luke Gill. He got the last touch after it initially came off Roxburgh.
It was all to play for in the second half but it was the Dabbers who took the initiative and retook the lead. Paddy Jarrett charged forward after jinking away from his man, played it out to Roxburgh, and Aidy found Panter with his back to goal. Alex managed to work the smallest space to turn and fire home, continuing his hot streak in front of goal.
Jon Moran had been semi-forced into a change at half time with Josh Williams carrying an injury in the first half, that led to him being replaced by Joel Connolly. This also necessitated a formation switch, and it was this that really unlocked the game for Nantwich.
The period of 15 minutes or so in and after the Panter goal was simply electric football from the Dabbers, cutting a Clitheroe team that had previously been relatively untroubled to pieces time after time.
Roxburgh dragged a shot wide after leading a break, before a Green snapshot very nearly found the far corner, denied only by a smart save by McClenaghan.
An extraordinary few seconds from the following corner then saw the Dabbers hit the post and the Clitheroe keeper somehow claw away the rebound while still on the floor from diving for the first effort.
Panter was then denied by a superb last ditch challenge on him as he shaped up to grab his second goal.
The only respite in this period for the visitors came when Briggs again tested Garratt, who got down sharply to push away the attempt.
Seconds after this it was deservedly 3-1. Bircumshaw thumped the ball forwards; whether he was trying to pick out Harrison was unclear but that’s who it found. Outwitting the defender near him, Byron took the ball in his stride and hit it low under the onrushing McClenaghan as he edges ever closer to 50 Nantwich goals.
Some great defending from Paddy Kennedy helped keep the scoreline safe for Nantwich as they looked to close the game out.
The always lively Veron Parny forced Garratt into some more action in the last 10 minutes, instinctively throwing out an arm to keep out his shot.
But Parny wasn’t to be denied. In the 87th minute, following a Clitheroe corner, he hit a terrific low strike through a crowd of bodies and in from the edge of the box.
That instilled a few nerves in the crowd and among the players for the first time but the Dabbers held out and the best unbeaten home run in all competitions for 7 years goes on.
The next home game for Nantwich Town is against Lower Breck on Saturday 1st November at 3pm.
Teams
Nantwich Town: Ben Garratt, Aidy Roxburgh, Perry Bircumshaw, Kelvin Mellor (C), Josh Williams (Joel Connolly, 46), Paddy Kennedy, Alex Panter, Joe Robbins, Byron Harrison (Byron Moore, 74), Fenton Green (Harry Bower, 84), Paddy Jarrett (Callum Saunders, 74)
Sub not used: Jon Moran
Goals: Green (38), Panter (54), Harrison (69)
Clitheroe FC: James McClenaghan, Sam Olawumi, Josh Briggs, Jordan Windass (Cameron Ball, 5), Bradley Ditch, Jake Carroll (C), Leon Creech, Harry Johnson (Jacob Hanson, 66), Luke Gill, Veron Parny, Lewis Trickett (Dylan Dwyer, 66)
Subs not used: Jake Connelly, Sean McConville
Goals: Gill (45+1), Parny (87)
Attendance: 270