By James Briscoe
Nantwich Town goalkeeper Luke Simpson was sent off as Witton Albion’s Kyle Wilson came back to haunt his old club.
Wilson scored with a clinical finish in a 2-0 Bank Holiday Monday win at Weaver Stadium.
Joshua Hancock extended Witton’s lead on 63 minutes from the penalty spot after Simpson saw red for fouling Daniel Andrews.
Hanock was ready to compete from the first whistle and his movement caused the home defence problems early on.
Nicholas Platt, who enjoyed a brief spell at the Dabbers last season, blazed over on 10 minutes.
The Dabbers were penned in their half for the first 15 minutes and an Andrews corner was scuffed wide by Marc Joseph.
Nantwich’s Mark Jones had a weak attempt cleared off the line on 19 minutes after good build-up by Aaron Burns.
The Dabbers were nearly through on goal a minute later but Adam Carden could not find the crucial pass.
Then Wilson dinked a fine finish over Simpson to give the visitors the lead on 23 minutes.
Thomas Moore was thwarted when his freekick was palmed on to the post by Matthew Cooper.
Wilson missed a close-range header on 37 minutes as Nantwich’s defensive pairing switched off.
Neither side really threatened in the first 10 minutes of the second half, Witton looked happy to sit on their lead, and Nantwich could not break through.
Harry Clayton, who scored the Dabbers’ only goal in a 2-1 away defeat to Matlock Town on Saturday, headed a Harrop corner wide on 52 minutes.
Then Simpson was sent off on 63 minutes after felling Andrews when he was through one-on-one.
Moore took the gloves and faced Hancock’s penalty but could not get near the strike.
Wilson should have scored again on 66 minutes but his lob was cleared off the line.
Nantwich had a promising spell in possession on 78 minutes but Devenney’s shot was blocked.
On 81 minutes Witton substitute Steven Foster glanced a header just over.
Andrews hit the Nantwich post on 82 minutes from a narrow angle when Witton looked more likely to score.
Burns attempted a volley in injury time but did not catch it well and it landed in to Cooper’s idle hands.
Nantwich manager Danny Johnson said they need to work hard to improve on recent results.
“We’ve got a bit of work to do, we knew we had even after the victory against King’s Lynn.
“I think the last two games at Skelmersdale and Matlock we should’ve definitely picked up something and we didn’t have the rub of the green.
“I think the goalkeeper (Simpson) and Sam (Egerton-Wilson) should’ve done a bit better for the first goal, it was really sloppy.
“I thought we shaped up a bit in the second half, we came out and we had a bit more hunger.
“We’ve got to bounce back. We’re not happy but we’re going to stick to our guns, we have big belief in the group.
“I don’t think it’s a confidence thing. I don’t know what it was, whether we weren’t at the races or a few players had an excessive barbecue last night, I don’t know. But I was really disappointed with the first 45 minutes with everyone.
“We’ve got lots to work on and we know what we’ve got to do.
“I’m looking to bring in a couple of players this week and if I can it’ll kick us on a little bit and we’ll try to build a bit of confidence.”
Nantwich Town host Danny Johnson’s old club Ashton United on Saturday at the Weaver Stadium.
Nantwich: Luke Simpson, Alex Frost (c), White, Thomas Moore, Earl Davis, Sam Egerton-Wilson, Adam Carden (Tom Williams 70), Mark Jones, Aaron Burns, Harry Clayton (Ashley Young 65), Max Harrop (Oliver Devenney 70). Subs: Phil Parkinson, Devenney, Lambert.
(All pictures courtesy of Simon J Newbury Photography)
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