Nantwich Town returned to Northern Premier League action with a bang as they breezed past Ramsbottom United 4-1 at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium.
Goals from Mat Bailey (pictured), Elliot Osborne, Liam Shotton and Josh Gordon eased the Dabbers to victory.
Kevin McGrath scored the host’s only goal as Nantwich put the disappointment of their FA Trophy defeat by Halifax behind them.
And they were soon off the mark on 12 minutes when Mat Bailey rose to head home from a corner after Matt Bell won the set-piece down the left.
Almost immediately, Ramsbottom responded as McGrath fizzed a shot past Terry Smith from inside the box.
Shortly after, both teams created chances at either end of the pitch.
The first fell to Lewis Short whose shot flew just past the far post before Smith was forced to save a close-range header from Ramsbottom’s John Pritchard.
As the half grew to a close, the Dabbers asserted their dominance and limited Ramsbottom to one chance when Ben Harrison blocked an Aaron Smith strike.
Shotton had a couple of opportunities to score, but it wasn’t to be and the teams went in level at the break.
Within a minute of the restart, Nantwich took the lead through Osborne.
Josh Hancock drifted inside, his attempt was blocked but the ball came back to Osborne and the midfielder found the bottom corner.
Jones scored Nantwich’s third seven minutes later when Hancock drove into the opposition’s half before striking the post.
Jones anticipated the bounce of the ball and was on hand to convert and give the Dabbers a two-goal lead.
Shotton almost extended Nantwich’s lead to 4-1 with 20 minutes left to play as he saw his ferocious shot sting the gloves of Shenton – but the goalkeeper parried the ball away from his goal.
Moments later, substitute Gordon made an instant impact and did make it four.
The ball found Gordon in the area before the forward perfectly placed the ball past Shenton in the Ramsbottom goal at his near post.
Bell went close to a fifth with a fine effort from 12 yards out.
Nantwich saw out the rest of the game and gained some vital league points as they look to force their way back into the play-offs.
The second leg of the FA Trophy semi-final awaits as the Dabbers travel to FC Halifax Town for the momentous fixture on Saturday afternoon.
Nantwich Town: Smith, White, Short, Harrison, Bailey, Osborne, Jones, Hall (c), Shotton, Bell and Hancock.
Substitutes – Kosylo (on for Hancock), Moran (on for Short), Cooke, Gordon (on for Jones) and Burzynski.
(pic courtesy of Simon J Newbury Photography)
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