By Liam Price, photos by Jonathan White
Nantwich Town ended the 2023/24 season with a 2-1 victory over Widnes at the DCBL Stadium.
There were 2 enforced changes to the team, with Jon Moran in for the injured Paddy Kay and Callum Saunders starting for Gio Loureiro, who was caught in the heavy traffic that delayed the start of other games and arrived only 35 minutes before kick-off.
The Dabbers struck early as they have done many times throughout this season. The first free kick of the game was floated in by Joel Connolly, headed down by Moran, touched on by Nathan Okome and poked in by Byron Harrison for his landmark 20th goal of a fine season in just the 3rd minute.
Nantwich created next to nothing for the rest of the half as Widnes recovered from the early setback to dominate possession. James Steele had a couple of breaks down the right channel, taking advantage of the full backs being pushed up the field and leaving space. That strategy, that has also sometimes involved splitting the centre backs when in possession, has been hit and miss when it’s been used this season.
It was from one of those runs that Widnes’ equaliser came in the 14th minute. Steele squared it to Sean Miller who was unmarked in the box and able to turn and fire in across Ben Garratt, who had no chance.
Miller then struck a free kick straight at Garratt in the first shot on target in the game that wasn’t a goal.
Sharif Deans hooked a difficult effort high and wide as Widnes continued to get joy down the wings.
The ever-dangerous Steele drove an expertly hit volley just over the bar from a free kick played into him from the corner position, great technique that would have deserved a goal.
Kai Evans and Steele traded shots that didn’t trouble the respective goals, before what looked like a cross drifted dangerously towards the far top corner from Widnes and brought the best out of Garratt who just clawed it away.
Jack McGowan, who scored in the reverse fixture, almost repeated the trick just before half time after blasting over on the turn in what was another presentable chance.
McGowan and Evans started the second half with further half openings that didn’t amount to anything. McGowan then sprung in behind but couldn’t find a white shirt with his pullback.
The moment that twisted the game came from a sub by Paul Carden and his staff, sacrificing Connolly for the more attack minded Loureiro. And it worked instantly.
He was involved in the play in the middle and slotted in Callum Saunders to finish superbly, a lob over Cameron Terry that did see him get a touch, but not enough. No matter how many times you see it, it’s still amazing to see the effect one change on a pitch of 22 players can have on a team’s performance.
Moran had an effort in the box blocked to deny one of the moments of the season, before McGowan headed straight at Garratt.
Another twist in the Dabbers’ favour came on 71 minutes, when Widnes’ goalscorer Miller was sent off for a second yellow that didn’t come long after his first, for hauling down a Dabbers player who was trying to launch a counter attack. A crazy thing to do on a yellow and lucky for him there was nothing riding on this game for Widnes.
Steve Irwin (not that one) had a low shot that was held by Garratt, as the team of 10 tried to nab a point from a game they could easily have been out of sight in from the first half.
Sub Will Jones fired over the bar, but they were getting closer. None more so than Deans who launched a header off the crossbar on 87 minutes as Nantwich breathed a sigh of relief.
But the Dabbers were able to hold on and reward a good number of travelling fans with victory.
A season with 14 cup games that brought unforgettable wins over Chester and York but had a cooling effect on the league form to leave Nantwich 16th at the turn of the year, followed by a surge in 2024 that took the Dabbers as high as 6th and dreaming of an unlikely play-off spot, ending up in 10th, 6 points off the play offs. The 5th best home record but 13th best away record tells its own story. With 2 extra teams so 4 extra games to contend with next season, a big summer awaits as everyone at Nantwich now better understands what it will take to get out of this division.
Teams
Widnes FC: Cameron Terry, Sam Bhatti, Matty Rain (Lewis Coulton, 25), Jack Byrne, Niall Battersby, Olly Wright (Will Jones, 70), Steven Irwin, James Steele, Jack McGowan (Fisnik Hajdari, 73), Sean Miller, Sharif Deans
Subs not used: Will Bell, Joshua High
Goal: Miller (14)
Red card: Miller (71)
Nantwich Town: Ben Garratt, Timi Sobowale, Perry Bircumshaw (Sean Lawton, 89), Troy Bourne, Courtney Meppen-Walters, Jon Moran, Joel Connolly (Giovanni Loureiro, 54), Nathan Okome, Byron Harrison, Callum Saunders, Kai Evans (Akiel Raffie, 90)
Subs not used: Adam Carden, Eric Merner
Goals: Harrison (3), Saunders (55)
Attendance: 288