By Ashley Houghton
Nantwich Town eased into the semi-finals of the Cheshire Senior Cup with an accomplished performance on Woodley Sports’ synthetic pitch.
On eight minutes, Woodley’s Ricky Anane scurried down the right but Bradley Maylett swept the ball wide when well placed.
The Dabbers responded when Rod McDonald’s through ball was latched on to by Ben Mills who slipped the ball into the path of Michael Lennon but his shot lacked venom and was comfortably saved by Max Johnson.
Woodley got their noses in front on 20 minutes when Aaron Chalmers’ cross from the left was comfortably headed home by the unmarked Darren Stephenson.
But the equaliser was just two minutes in coming. Ben Mills beat the offside trap to run on to a long ball down the middle and cleverly slotted home past Johnson
Dave MacPherson gained possession on the edge of the box but shot wide of the target, then five minutes before the break the Dabbers took the lead.
MacPherson won the ball and rode a challenge before teeing up Lennon who fired home.
With the stiff wind now behind them, the Dabbers had an early chance to increase the lead after the break but Johnson collected Lennon’s close range flick.
MacPherson stroked the ball home from 10 yards but was standing in an offside position then Nantwich conceded another soft goal as Jack Dorney scooped in Joseph Holt’s corner on 68 minutes.
Lennon’s strike bounced back off the post as the visitors looked to restore their advantage and then Mills was unable to get his head to Lennon’s driven cross as chances continued to be created.
Jonny Brain had to come to Nantwich’s rescue to deny John Marsden and Jimmy Quinn’s side took full advantage to seal the winner on 82 minutes when Lennon was quick to pounce from close range after the ball bounced back off the bar.
Woodley’s misery was compounded when Holt was given a straight red card for dissent and the victory margin was almost increased when Niall Maguire’s 25 yarder was tipped round the post by Johnson.
Nantwich: Brain, Lowe, Solovojovs, MacPherson, Bailey, McDonald, Cooke (Maguire 84), Flynn, Mills, Lennon, Urwin (Foster 29). Subs: Jack, Summerskill, Mitchell.
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