Words and photo by Liam Price
An extraordinary finish saw Nantwich Town concede twice in stoppage time to lose 3-2 to Stalybridge Celtic at Bower Fold.
The home side were able to show off 4 new signings in their XI, a treat for those who had taken advantage for the ‘footie for a fiver’ offer that saw an excellent attendance of 847, including a healthy following from the Dabbers.
Stalybridge could have taken the lead just 2 minutes in as a free kick was whipped across goal, it missed everyone and went narrowly wide.
But the Dabbers’ sharp start was rewarded after only 8 minutes. Continuing their profitable combination, Steven Hewitt found the head of Byron Harrison from a free kick on the left side, nodding it past the reach of Luke Hewitson and sending those travelling Dabbers fans into raptures.
Nantwich had opportunities to extend the lead. Harrison was in a good position again, winning the bounce of the ball and spotting Hewitson off his line, his lob was over the bar comfortably though.
Celtic’s top scorer Aaron Dwyer cut inside from the left and pulled a shot wide, before an interception from Nathan Okome created an opportunity for him but the shot was blocked.
Connor Rankin then scuffed wide as the Dabbers continued strongly. But a twist was to come just 3 minutes before the break.
The ball pinged around in the box and hit a hand. The referee pointed straight to the spot. Shouts of handball could be heard from the Nantwich side as they thought the ball had actually hit a Stalybridge hand. Paul Carden said after that the ball hit a home player’s hand and then the hand of Hewitt, the man who was penalised.
Either way, the decision was made and wasn’t going to be unmade. Former Dabber Max Harrop stepped up and scored, Danny Roberts went the right way but couldn’t keep it out despite getting a touch.
Rankin and then a corner provided opportunities right before the break to restore the lead, Scott Butler miscuing a header.
The second half started in the same vein as the first, with Nantwich on top and a goal to show for it.
This one also came from Byron Harrison, and also after a set piece. The first ball in was not cleared and Sean Cooke got a shot in that was saved out to Harrison who had an easy tap in. He’s now in double figures for the season; it doesn’t bear thinking where the Dabbers would be without his goals, especially in this period of several injuries in that area.
Tyler Hill made a good clearance as Celtic tried to hit back again, before Kai Evans, on off the bench, was bright as anything in winning the ball high and crossing just over the head of Connor Rankin.
Harrop forced Roberts into a tricky save on the second attempt from a dipping effort.
As the game progressed and time ticked down Stalybridge started to build and Nantwich started to look nervous from being in a place of comfort.
Celtic sub Obua Mugalula somehow managed to miss with the goal apparently gaping. Then Roberts made a brilliant save from another former Dabber, Joe Robbins, who was making his debut for them.
Hewitt curled a free kick narrowly wide on 89 minutes, before an offside Stalybridge player hit the post on 90.
7 minutes were then added on. 5 subs had been made which they say are supposed to be 30 seconds each. It was hard to see where the other 4 and a half minutes were found, other than a brief injury stoppage for Harrop.
In the third of those minutes, Stalybridge equalised. Nantwich could not clear their lines and Darius Osei, another debutant, squeezed in from no distance.
Emboldened, Celtic pressed on again. This energy saw Max Leonard make a wild challenge on Evans that Carden said afterwards should have resulted in a red card.
A pair of Hewitt free kicks could not find the target, the second onto the roof of the net. And that looked to be that.
But the very last move of the game, in the 8th additional minute for the delays from the equaliser, saw them win it. Sub Jack Irlam tucked in to complete the Dabbers’ capitulation.
As news filtered through of neighbours Crewe Alex winning their game in the very same minute as the Dabbers lost theirs, 90+8, you could only be reminded of what a beautiful and bitter rollercoaster being a football supporter is.
The next home game for the Dabbers is against Runcorn Town in the Cheshire Senior Cup on Tuesday 14th November, then the FA Trophy tie against Chester on 18th November.
Teams
Stalybridge Celtic: Luke Hewitson, Pawel Zuk, Cole Lonsdale, Joe Robbins, Connor O’Grady, Jai Curran-Nicholls (Max Leonard, 57), Brad Byrne (Obua Mugalula, 68), Max Harrop (Jack Irlam, 74), Darius Osei, Aaron Dwyer, Matty Bryan
Subs not used: Michael Brewster, Jordan Burton
Goals: Harrop (pen, 43), Osei (90+3), Irlam (90+8)
Nantwich Town: Danny Roberts, Nathan Okome, Tyler Hill, Ahmed Ali, Mo Ali, Scott Butler, Paddy Kay, Steven Hewitt, Byron Harrison, Sean Cooke (Kai Evans, 60), Connor Rankin (AJ Leitch-Smith, 77)
Subs not used: Perry Bircumshaw, Jake Kirby-Reid, James Speare
Goals: Harrison (8, 51)
Attendance: 847