By Liam Price, photos by Jonathan White
Nantwich eased into the Second Round of the Cheshire Senior Cup with a 4-0 victory over Cammell Laird 1907 at the Swansway Stadium.
Jon Moran rotated his side, with youngsters Reece Vaughan and Tom Horton amongst the squad as Callum Saunders, Aidy Roxburgh and Paddy Jarrett sat it out. There was also a first start for Junior Brown.
Byron Moore opened the scoring in the 9th minute after being played through by Alex Panter and finishing past Finley Small.
The Dabbers squandered many chances to extend that lead before half time. Small made one outstanding save from a Panter header and was quick to get down to a Josh Williams effort.
Kelvin Mellor, Joe Robbins and Moore all also came close to making it 2-0 before the break.
In the second half, after a little dip in tempo Nantwich were back on it and did get the second in the 56th minute. And it was Robbins who got it with a well hit low strike as the ball broke to him on the edge of the box. The only goals he’d scored for the Dabbers before this came in his first spell and that hat trick away at Stalybridge in February 2022.
Panter made it 3 less than 10 minutes later. Cammell Laird attempted to take a quick free kick but the defender was caught on the back foot, with Panter nicking it off him and running through to score and continue his form in front of goal.
Hockenhull and Moore spurned opportunities to make it even more comfortable, before the 4th goal did eventually come late on from midfielder Fenton Green, who got his first for the club with a low whipped finish after another error at the back from the Lairds.
There was still time for Ben Garratt to have a say in the game. Horton was unfortunate to concede a penalty in the last seconds but Garratt went the right way to save and hold the spot kick and maintain the Dabbers’ clean sheet.
The Dabbers’ next home game is against Congleton Town on Saturday 4th October at 3pm.
Teams
Nantwich Town: Ben Garratt, Reece Vaughan, Josh Williams, Kelvin Mellor (C), Ben Hockenhull (Perry Bircumshaw, 82), Junior Brown (Tom Horton, 75), Joe Robbins, Alex Panter (Fenton Green, 71), Joel Connolly (Byron Harrison, 45), Byron Moore
Sub not used: Jon Moran
Goals: Moore (9), Robbins (56), Panter (64), Green (89)
Cammell Laird 1907: Finlay Small, Aiden Chwalko, Ellis Bolton, Luis Davin, Joe Bayliss (Callum France, 69), Joe Downey (C), Liam Owen, Jamie Eaton (Tom Davies, 63), Ben Wood (Connor Doyle, 45), Adam Larway (Joel Whalley, 45), Harrison Denton
Attendance: 148