Nantwich Town manager Ritchie Sutton expressed his pride as The Dabbers dramatically ran out 2-1 winners against Radcliffe on Saturday afternoon, “I’m really proud of the lads today, they did exactly what we asked of them and I can can’t ask for much more”
Nantwich Town travelled to fifth placed Radcliffe off the back of five games unbeaten. On Tuesday night Harry Nevin’s 92nd minute equaliser helped the Dabbers to a 1-1 draw against second placed Gainsborough Trinity at the Swansway Stadium. Ironically, Harry Nevin was the only absentee from Tuesday’s game as he missed out through injury meaning Perry Bircumshaw dropped into centre back and Caspar Hughes filled in the right back role. “Harry was the hero from Tuesday night so it’s disappointing to lose a player of his quality but Caspar has played right back before and it also allowed us to bring Matt Bell into midfield which gave us more experience in the team. But that was no problem, it shows that we have strength in depth, and we can perform when missing players” said Sutton
The Dabbers had the first real chance of the game after 10 minutes as Mwiya Malumo managed to find Dan Cockerline but his low effort was well saved by the Radcliffe keeper. The next opportunity of note came 25 minutes into the game as Radcliffe striker Djavan Pedro cut inside from the right and shot towards goal but it bobbled past the near post.
Five minutes before the break, The Dabbers were awarded a penalty after Ivan Urvantev was tripped In the box by Luke Joyce. Experienced striker Byron Harrison took full responsibility of the penalty and calmly slotted past the keeper to give the Dabbers a deserved lead.
At the break, The Dabbers would have been pleased with their showing so far but they knew that they had plenty to do in the second to hold their lead against a very experienced side.
It took the hosts just three minutes to register the first effort of the half. Experienced football league midfielder Nicky Adams beat Dabbers keeper Tom Booth to a long ball and as Adams got to the byline he crossed for Gareth Evans but his header towards the open goal was excellently cleared off the line by Perry Bircumshaw who was on hand to save Tom Booth’s blushes. The hosts were piling on the pressure and they came close again on the hour mark as half time substitute Luca Navarro volleyed over from the 10 yards. Two minutes later another substitute in Jude Oyibo drove into the box before firing low, but Booth was on hand to save well down to his left side.
In the 71st minute, the hosts pressure finally paid off as Navarro was tripped in the box by Troy Bourne and the referee showed no hesitation before pointing to the spot. Navarro dusted himself down and stepped up to fire his penalty into the top corner, inches away from the outstretched arm of Booth who was very close to keeping his clean sheet in tact.
As soon as The Dabbers conceded they made an offensive substitution as Curtis Morrison to add a bit of pace upfront.
The momentum was now very much with the hosts and they almost got themselves into the lead as Olly Thornley took aim from just inside the box but Booth saved well before Thornley blazed the rebound well over the crossbar. The Dabbers were hanging on and looked to catch the opposition on the counter-attack. Seven minutes before time they did just that as Morrison found himself inbehind and looked to cross into the box but his cross/shot looped over the keeper and crashed off the underside of the bar before nearly crossing the line. Two minutes from time the Dabbers came close again as Tom Scully found Morrison down the left and as he got into the box, he crossed low to Cockerline but it was just out of the reach of the Dabbers number nine who couldn’t quite divert it home.
With the officials indicating five additional minutes, The Dabbers knew that they would have to remain resolute in order to get anything from the game. In the 92nd minute, Caspar Hughes lofted in a deep cross into the box that was cleared as far as Tom Scully, his scuffed volley fell kindly for centre back Troy Bourne who was unmarked in the box, and he smashed home to give The Dabbers and unlikely lead in the dying embers of the game, sparking scenes of delirium amongst the travelling Nantwich fans!
Minutes later, the referee blew his full time whistle and once again The Dabbers had managed to snatch something from the game in added time. After the game Ritchie Sutton said “We want that team spirit and that winning mentality and I think were getting that now, these last five games have shown that. After we conceded we went to a five at the back and that allowed Curtis to get further up the pitch and it was great for Troy to get that winner as that’s what the lads deserved”
Nantwich Town line up
- Tom Booth
- Caspar Hughes
- Sean Lawton
- Troy Bourne
- Perry Bircumshaw
- Tom Scully
- Mwiya Malumo
- Matt Bell ©
- Dan Cockerline
- Ivan Urvantev (Jon Moran 84’)
- Byron Harrison (Curtis Morrison 74’)
Subs not used:
Jack Sherratt, Levi Chiduka, Shaun Miller