By Liam Price
Nantwich Town kept a clean sheet and took a point at would-be champions Widnes with a 0-0 draw at the DCBL Stadium.
The starting XI was unchanged from last week’s big win at home to Hanley, and they started strongly again.
A smart Nantwich move ended with Byron Harrison laying the ball back for Tom Pratt whose shot was seemingly deflected into the side netting, or rather one of the wheels at the side of the temporary goals. The sensation of it looking like it hit the post seemed to bamboozle the officials, who gave a goal kick when it was clearly a corner.
Bigger controversy was to follow moments later. Callum Saunders was brought down on the nearside touchline by Harry McGee. He didn’t seem to like how Saunders went down so then made a clear kicking movement towards the prone Dabbers man, right under the nose of both the Nantwich bench and the assistant referee. After consulting with that linesman, the referee only gave a yellow card to McGee, who could count himself very lucky to still be on the pitch.
Kelvin Mellor saw a snapshot blocked in the box, then Ben Rydel had a shot blocked at the other end.
Widnes forward Sean Miller (not to be confused with the one who used to play for Nantwich and Crewe Alex) fired well wide, before Kai Evans pulled a shot wide of the Widnes near post.
The home side appealed for a penalty when the ball hit James Melhado, footage is inconclusive on it but did show the arm rocking back but the arm was very much by his side.
Paddy Kennedy headed clear of the Dabbers goal line after a bit of head tennis from a Widnes free kick, then Ben Garratt was as sharp as ever to get to a hopeful long ball ahead of forward Jack McGowan.
Another dramatic moment arrived shortly before half time. Widnes broke quickly from their own half and James Steele found himself charging into the penalty area. Paddy Kennedy threw himself at it but unquestionably brought down Steele and Widnes were awarded the penalty. An unusual error from Kennedy who’s not one you would associate with a tackle like that.
Miller stepped up looking to give Widnes a crucial lead, but struck his spot kick off the top of the crossbar and over with Garratt diving the other way. A miss that would have been cheered as loudly in Hednesford as it was by the Dabbers fans in the DCBL Stadium.
That man Miller started the second half with the bit between his teeth to make up for his miss, bringing a good early save by Garratt and then driving another effort well wide.
Evans had his brightest moment later in the second half when bursting into the box but made a mess of his shot in the end.
Matty Rain managed to break into the box and his shot which bobbled across the box was blocked by Garratt in front of a Widnes attacker.
The lack of discipline in the game reared its head again on 62 minutes. The home captain Steven Irwin cynically fouled substitute Kofi Moore and was shown a second yellow card. The first yellow was a silly one, stopping the restart for an inconsequential Nantwich free kick. This second yellow was even crazier considering already being on one; the club captain will now miss the final game of the season in a title race which is looking to be going right down to the wire.
The Dabbers have had some trouble playing against 10 men at times and nearly fell foul of this again 5 minutes after the red card. Sub Sharif Deans squandered a huge chance when scooping over the bar in the box in a great amount of space.
Widnes had to go for it even with the man disadvantage. Hednesford had gone top on goal difference after winning their game on Friday and are now really breathing down the neck of the home side here who have been top for so much of the season.
But try as they might, Widnes could not get past Ben Garratt. Never more so than in the last 10 minutes, when both Miller and Steele were brilliantly denied by the Dabbers keeper in quick succession. Jon Moran revealed after the game that Garratt was given a standing ovation by his team mates in the dressing room for his performance.
A late free kick provided the last chance for Widnes to get a desperately needed three points but it was deflected over the wall and many players for the home side slumped to the floor when the final whistle went. Widnes have now gone 4 without a win at the worst possible time and their title lead over Hednesford is down to 1 point with 2 games to go, thrilling for the neutral but nerve-wracking for those involved.
For the Dabbers, this was the first time they’ve kept back-to-back clean sheets all season and only the second away clean sheet all season. Constantly having to outscore opponents has not been sustainable and must be a key target to improve on ahead of next season, but for today it was a deserved point at a high-quality opponent.
Teams
Widnes FC: Mark Halstead, Sam Bird, Matty Rain, Niall Battersby, Louis Isherwood, Ben Rydel, Steven Irwin (C), Harry McGee (Brendan O’Brien, 80), Jack McGowan (Sharif Deans, 64), Sean Miller, James Steele
Subs not used: Tom Peterson, Renato De Oliveira Gomes, Jack Byrne
Red card: Irwin (62)
Nantwich Town: Ben Garratt, James Melhado, Kelvin Mellor (C), Joe Robbins (Alex Panter, 70), Ben Hockenhull, Paddy Kennedy (Perry Bircumshaw, 45+2), Callum Saunders (Kofi Moore, 54), Matty Tweedley, Byron Harrison, Tom Pratt, Kai Evans
Subs not used: Eric Merner, Reece Vaughan
Attendance: 352