By Liam Price
Prescot Cables retained the 1884 Cup with a 1-0 win over Nantwich Town at the Auto Safety Centre Stadium.
Aidy Roxburgh and Alex Panter came back into the team, with Kelvin Mellor rested. Paddy Kennedy was not part of the matchday squad but did take part in the warm up as he works his way back to match fitness.
The Dabbers might have taken the lead in just the 8th minute. The Prescot keeper Calvin Hare somehow managed to direct a firm Ben Greenop header over the bar when he looked certain to score.
Panter also tested Hare with a low shot which he turned away with his leg.
A minute later, Prescot tried to catch the Dabbers out with a quick throw in and nearly pulled it off, Josh Williams blocking a low shot that looked to be heading on target.
In a busy period, Nantwich then went up the other end and spurned another big chance, Panter ending up in the net instead of the ball.
Former Sandbach man Greenop continued the chances for the Dabbers when firing over, leaning back the problem but it was a good move up to that point.
The second half started in much the same pattern, Panter once more getting his shot away but again Hare was up to it.
Ben Hockenhull made a good clearance with Prescot pressing, before moments later they curled the ball over the bar.
Hockenhull then directed an effort wide at the other end from a Connolly free kick delivery but he did look to close to offside anyway.
The home side were beginning to turn up the wick, driving into the side netting then again missing the target with Ben Garratt on the floor after pushing away a corner.
The Nantwich keeper was at his best a couple of minutes later to tip a top corner bound shot over the bar, reading it brilliantly.
Prescot found the breakthrough in the 73rd minute, but not without a bit of controversy. A brief stoppage in play saw a couple of Dabbers players come towards the touchline to get some instructions from Jon Moran. Suddenly though the game was going again without warning, meaning they were out of position.
A ball to the back post was kept alive by Prescot, going across to the other post where a Nantwich player got in the way of the attacker charging in and ended up on the floor on top of the ball. But in doing that he kept the ball in play, allowing that Prescot player to touch across to Ben Elliott to easily score. A scrappy goal with a confusing build-up, but ultimately it came down to Prescot not giving up on two seemingly lost causes just seconds apart.
Nantwich were handed the opportunity to equalise in the last 10 minutes. Aidy Roxburgh tried to sidefoot the ball across only for it to be blocked by the arm of a Prescot player. The referee gave the penalty, but a bit like the Market Drayton one it looked harsh, this time given the short distance between Roxburgh and the Prescot defender.
Greenop took the spot kick but Hare was there to save and hold, it was not one he’ll want to remember but shouldn’t detract from what was another good performance.
Garratt was called into action one last time when saving with his foot inside the last 5 minutes.
There was still time though for Hare to pull off more heroics. One save came from a Dabbers trialist who sent a shot curling towards the corner, but there he was to acrobatically push over the bar.
Then from the following corner, he flung himself to his left to tip a header around the post. Nantwich may not face a better goalkeeping performance all season long, and it’s he Prescot can thank for holding onto the 1884 Cup, celebrating the formation year of both clubs.
Team
Nantwich Town: Ben Garratt, Aidy Roxburgh, Trialist A, Ben Hockenhull, Josh Williams, Perry Bircumshaw, Ben Greenop, Fenton Green, Alex Panter, Joel Connolly (C ), Patrick Jarrett
Subs: Trialist B, Joe Robbins, Callum Saunders, Byron Harrison, Reece Vaughan, Campbell Reid, Byron Moore
Prescot goal: Elliott (73)
Attendance: 467