By James Briscoe
A late Aaron Burns penalty was not enough to prevent Nantwich Town stumbling to defeat at Skelmersdale United.
In a match played at a frenetic pace, Nantwich matched their hosts in the first period.
But the balance of the match shifted on the stroke of half-time at the West Lancashire College Stadium.
Earl Davis was adjudged to have fouled Chris Luby on the edge of the penalty area and Kenny Strickland stepped up to crash home the free-kick.
Chances in the first half were at a premium with Luby missing the best opportunity when he failed to direct a header on target when well placed early on.
A temporary floodlight failure saw the match halted early in the second period but when play resumed, the hosts gradually gained the upper hand.
For Nantwich, the hard working Harry Clayton almost equalised but his shot was just wide of the mark in the 70th minute.
With eight minutes remaining, the game looked dead and buried as Gary Burnett created space for himself and drilled the ball into the corner of the net from 25 yards to make it 2-0.
But the goal sparked a Nantwich onslaught and in the 88th minute, the Dabbers grabbed a deserved consolation.
Burns (pictured) slotted home from the spot for his second goal in two games after substitute Chris Amadi was felled by keeper Zac Hibbert.
Davis was thrown forward as Danny Johnson’s side tried to force an equaliser.
And the big centre-half almost levelled from close range, while at the other end keeper Luke Simpson did well to deny Luby and then Burnett in a pulsating finale.
The defeat is a minor setback for Johnson who began the season strongly on Saturday with a 2-0 win over one of the pre-season favourites King’s Lynn Town.
The Dabbers are mid-table 12th in Evo-Stik Premier League after just two matches.
(Pic courtesy of Simon J Newbury Photography)
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