Nantwich Town were on the wrong end of a strong second half comeback from Shaw Lane who won 3-2 at the Weaver Stadium despite trailing 2-0, writes Steve Sharman.
The Dabbers had gone into the break with a two-goal lead thanks to a fine individual effort from Jordan Cole and a Matt Bell goal just before half time.
But the visitors hit back with three goals in 11 minutes from Chib Chilaka, Godwin Abadaki and Kelvin Lugsden to claim maximum points.
In wet and windy conditions, neither side started brightly and it took until the tenth minute for some notable action.
Harry Clayton beat Ducks’ keeper Ed Wilczynski to a long through ball but the forward’s touch was heavy and went out of play.
Clayton then chested down Courtney Widlin’s left wing cross to Bell, but the skipper dragged his shot wide.
The closest Shaw Lane came was through the lively Alex Byrne whose shot from the edge of the box was deflected for a corner.
Three minutes later, a fine lofted ball from Danny Griggs found Cole just inside the visitor’s box.
The forward’s excellent control allowed him to flick it over the defender and then lob the stranded Wilczynski to give Nantwich the lead.
On the half hour mark Cole could have had a second as he headed straight at the Ducks stopper from Bell’s in-swinging free kick.
Having taken down Jones’ fine through ball just outside the box, the forward took a touch before chipping Wilczynski but saw his effort clip the crossbar and land into the keepers’ hands.
Shaw Lane had a great chance to level before half time but Krystian Burzynski made a fine save to deny Damien Reeves who had broken the offside trap.
Moments later the Dabbers doubled their lead as Bell struck a fine low shot from the edge of the box following Jones’ blocked effort.
Jones was brought off at the break with Sam Wakefield on in his place. The visitors made a change as Chilaka came on for Jake Skelton.
Chilaka had an immediate impact as he pulled a goal back for his team, heading in unmarked from Ben Gordon’s corner.
Shaw Lane sensed an equaliser but were fortunate not to concede a third as Wilczynski fumbled Griggs’ free kick with the ball squirming out of his hands and dropping just wide.
But five minutes later, the Ducks did have their leveller as former Dabber Godwin Abadaki picked the ball up on the edge of the box and curled into the top corner via a small deflection.
And their comeback was complete two minutes later as defender Lugsden bundled home from a couple of yards after an in-swinging corner.
Shaw Lane went on to look for a fourth goal and they thought they had it late on as substitute Paul Clayton acrobatically volleyed into the net only for referee Dale Baines to rule the strike out for a foul.
Despite three minutes of stoppage time, Nantwich couldn’t salvage a draw and now look to Saturday at home to Stafford to end the league campaign with a win.
Nantwich Town: Burzynski, Morgan, Wildin, Stair (O’Riordan 73′), Bourne, Mullarkey, Jones (Wakefield 46′), Bell (c) (Boyle (73′), Clayton, Cole, Griggs. Unused subs: Cave (GK), Thornton.
(Photos courtesy of Jonathan White)
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