Nantwich Town continued their fine Evo-Stik Premier Division form with a 2-1 win over Hednesford Town, writes James Brown.
The Dabbers got off to a perfect start after controlling the opening exchanges.
Pressure on the Hednesford goal resulted in a corner. Sean Cooke lofted a ball forward into Craig Lindfield who beat the offside trap to volley home and give Nantwich a tenth minute lead.
Just before the half hour mark Hednesford were level when a slip from Dabbers captain Joel Stair allowed Dan Sweeney to race through and finish past Fabian Spiess into the bottom corner.
The winner came four minutes after the break following patient Nantwich build-up play as James Lawrie spotted the run of Troy Bourne who delivered a cross into the six-yard box for Lindfield to steer home.
A second half defensive masterclass saw the Dabbers see out the game to earn a second win in four days and go six games unbeaten in the league.
The Dabbers started on the front foot with Jamie Morgan and Joe Mwasile terrorising the Hednesford full backs.
The bright start paid off when a training ground corner routine found it’s way to Cooke who, instead of shooting, chipped a ball over the Hednesford defence into Lindfield who had beaten the high line before volleying past Sheridon Martinez.
The Hednesford shot-stopper almost gifted Nantwich a second on 15 minutes.
His poor throw went straight to the feet of Cooke but he managed to recover in time to deny Lawrie which was a big let off for the visitors.
Hednesford grew into the game as the half wore on and had a couple of chances from free-kicks taken by Joe Fitzpatrick, the second from dead centre was fired on target however Spiess made a comfortable save.
The Dabbers keeper could do nothing in the 29th minute when a mistake from Stair allowed Sweeney to run in and finish into the bottom corner for 1-1.
Four minutes after the break Nantwich were back in front as Lawrie picked up possession on the edge of the box.
He played in Bourne on the right wing who whipped in a low cross which was met by Lindfield to finish past Martinez.
It could have been three after a lovely ball from Lindfield played Morgan down the left who drove into the box before drilling a cross towards Joe Malkin however a touch from Hednesford full back Sam Griffiths took it just over the bar.
The Pitmen’s best chances to find an equaliser were from set-pieces with the tall Stefan Galinski and Griffiths flicking headers wide of the mark.
Inside the final 15 minutes, Nantwich looked to kill the game off when Malkin picked up the ball in the Hednesford half and spotted the run of Mwasile. However, his pass was too heavy for the winger.
Martinez was on hand to make a quick reaction save with ten minutes to go when Pitmen skipper Galinski sliced a cross with pace towards his own net.
The keeper was keeping the game alive with another good stop moments later following great play from Cooke to beat a couple of defenders before setting up substitute Callum Saunders who was denied twice.
In the last five minutes, the game was stretched as both sides had chances on goal. Substitutes Dan Cockerline and Charley Edge both wentg close before Galinski made an important clearance to prevent a Cooke free-kick from finding a Nantwich player.
The Dabbers closed out the game for a second successive win to go six unbeaten and up to sixth in the league table.
Nantwich will now hit the road as they look to continue their winning run against Mickleover Sports on Saturday afternoon (3pm kick-off).
Nantwich Town: Fabian Spiess, Troy Bourne, Jamie Morgan, Joel Stair (c), Toby Mullarkey, Matt Bell, Joe Mwasile (Jake Phillips 86’), James Lawrie, Joe Malkin, Sean Cooke, Craig Lindfield (Callum Saunders 67’). Subs not used: James Hawkins (GK), Steve Jones, Aaron Knight
(Images courtesy of Jonathan White)
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