By James Briscoe
Nantwich Town boss Danny Johnson described his team’s performance as “a disgrace” after they slumped to a 2-1 home defeat.
Andy Fowler and Jamie Rainford earned Marine three points despite a late Aaron Burns header for the hosts.
“It was not acceptable,” Johnson blasted after the match.
“The first half I thought we did okay but we still fell short and in the second half it was an absolute disgrace if I’m honest.
“I’ve backed this group of players now for 18-19 games and I can’t back them anymore after that because that was not acceptable.
“The lads are just letting me down and I’ve had enough now to be honest with you.
“I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt after beating Barwell on Saturday but their mental strength was so poor.
“They’ve not shown any desire in the second half to really get hold of the ball and pass it and get it out wide like we’ve asked them to.
“I’m really disappointed. I’m lost for words at the moment.
“It was a disgrace. I’m really disappointed with the lads, not happy whatsoever, they need to really start producing the goods or they’re going to find themselves no longer a Nantwich player.”
Joe Fowler headed narrowly over for Marine from a whipped cross by Michael Oroish on 10 minutes.
Burns had a chance for Nantwich a minute later after Max Harrop produced a great cross but the prolific striker was thwarted by Maarine keeper Callum Williams.
Nantwich stopper Jack Cudworth escaped with a yellow card on 14 minutes when he handled outside his area.
He made amends with an acrobatic save on 48 minutes from a point-blank Jamie Rainford header.
But just a minute later, Rainford made amends for his miss by diverting just over the line from a corner to put the visitors 1-0 up.
Nantwich’s Danny Caldecott hurt himself on 52 minutes when he made a goal saving tackle to deny Andy Fowler.
But Fowler struck on 64 minutes for 2-0 after Ross Davidson’s tackle spilled, allowing the winger to tap home from what looked like an offside position.
Burns pulled one back for Nantwich with a header on 89 minutes after a cleverly-worked Harrop free-kick led to Andy White whipping a cross to the near post to set up a nervy finish.
And Steve Foster could have snatched an unlikely point, but blazed his shot over on 90+2 minutes.
The defeat leaves Nantwich perilously close to the relegation places, having played more games than their fellow strugglers.
Nantwich: Jack Cudworth, Alex Frost (c) (Ben Deegan 67), Danny Caldecott (Matty O’Neill 55), Ross Davidson, Earl Davis, Mat Bailey, Max Harrop, Mark Jones, Aaron Burns, Steve Foster, Andy White. Subs: Ollie Devenney, Harry Clayton, Russell Courtney.
(Pic courtesy of Simon J Newbury Photography)
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