PJ Hudson’s late winner gave Nantwich Town a crucial victory over the league’s basement club Belper Town, writes Richard Scott.
Hudson (pictured) picked up a knock down by Nicky Platt before shooting through the legs of Dan Haystead to give Nantwich all three points.
Elliot Osborne started ahead of Platt, while Harry Clayton was in for the suspended Steve Jones. Shaun Dowling started with Cliff Moyo injured.
Nabil Shariff almost scored for the visitors when he turned Ben Harrison before shooting at Terry Smith who parried clear.
Nantwich should have scored when Osborne was played in.
He squared it across goal but no Nantwich player could get to what would have been a tap-in.
Crewe Alex loanee Moran went close when he powered a header from a Cooke short corner, but Heystead punched clear.
The Dabbers laid siege to the Belper goal as Liam Shotton, Clayton and Cooke all went close and caused problems.
Shotton could have made it 1-0 when he gambled on a loose ball but his shot was blocked for a corner, which Moran then headed just wide.
Shotton then played in Kosylo who also missed the target.
But the ex Leek Town man made amends Shotton on 30 minutes, when a mistake allowed Harry Clayton in.
His shot was pushed up by Haystead and Shotton was in the right place to tap in for 1-0.
Cooke went close, stinging the finger tips of Haystead, and Shotton thought he had a second when he whipped a shot just wide.
Moran had to head over the bar to clear a free kick in the last minute of the first half.
Belper pressed after the break, as Dabbers keeper Terry Smith had to race out to clear a long ball.
Kosylo and Clayton posed danger for Belper as Nantwich looked to kill the game.
Then Smith had to be on to make a fine save from Shariff who had a shot from short range straight at the Dabbers number one.
But Belper did level on 59 minutes, when a corner found Lister at the far post who was able to tap in.
Dabbers had to steady the nerves, and Moran was close to making it 2-1 when a Cooke free kick was headed just wide by the young centre back.
Shotton should have had a second on 71 minutes when another mistake allowed Kosylo in.
He found Shotton, but it hit his knee and bounced away.
Captain Mark Jones could have scored when the Dabbers broke four on two. Osborne found his skipper, but his shot was over the bar.
Platt then blazed an effort over the bar in similar fashion.
But the Dabbers were back ahead on 76 minutes, when Hudson was played in by Platt.
The sub knocked through the legs of the onrushing Haystead to regain the lead.
Shotton could have sealed it when he stole the ball off Miller and got his shot away which was stopped by Haystead.
Belper could have equalised for a second time with a free header at the back post which sailed just over.
PJ then blasted one over the bar, as Mark Winslade came on for Shotton.
Moments later the whistle went, and Nantwich secured three vital points.
Nantwich play next Saturday April 4 with a league trip to Curzon Ashton, kick off 3pm.
Nantwich Town: Smith, Dowling, White, Moran, Harrison, M.Jones (C), Clayton, Osborne, Shotton, Cooke and Kosylo. Subs: Winslade, Platt, PJ Hudson and Hartley.
(pic courtesy of Simon J Newbury Photography)
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