By Ashley Houghton
Niall Maguire’s header rescued a point for Nantwich Town in a feisty clash with rivals Stafford Rangers at the Weaver Stadium.
Maguire headed home Kyle Wilson’s knock back in the second-half after Luke George had given Rangers a first-half lead.
Jimmy Quinn made two changes to the side beaten at Frickley last weekend with Josh Lane and Chris Flynn replacing Lewis Short and the injured Caspar Hughes.
The Dabbers started brightly and Si Everall went close to a dream start against his former club but his effort was saved by former Nantwich stopper Danny Read after Sean Cooke had put him through.
Nantwich then lost their captain Mat Bailey to a knee injury which could keep the ex- Crewe Alexandra man out for the near future.
Fabrice Kasiama and Christian Dacres both had efforts for Rangers but neither tested Dabbers keeper Jonny Brain as Nantwich dominated the first-half.
Cooke’s free-kick went close before Fraser McLachlan and Lane went close to breaking the deadlock just after the half hour.
The visitors took the lead in first-half stoppage time as Karl Espley’s header was volleyed home by George from a corner.
Nantwich came out fighting in the second-half and Everall again went close as he latched on to Brain’s long ball before forcing a save from Read and then a block from George at the second attempt.
Rangers had a great chance to seal all three points 20 minutes from time as Jimmy Turner broke down the right and cut back for Kasiama whose effort was by Brain from point blank range.
That miss proved costly as Wilson headed Rod McDonald’s free-kick across goal and Maguire headed home at the back post.
Everall and Wilson both shot over with great chances to win it for the Dabbers late on but a battling performance from both sides leaves Nantwich in 8th place five points behind the playoffs.
Nantwich: Brain, Carden, Flynn, Maguire, Bailey (Moss, 23), McDonald, Cooke, McLachlan (Smith, 87), Everall, Wilson, Lane (Short, 73). Subs: Campbell, Brehaut.
All pictures courtesy of Simon J Newbury Photography
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