Nantwich Town were beaten by two late goals as they went down 2-1 at home to FC United of Manchester.
Almost 1,000 fans packed in to Weaver Stadium to watch a tightly-fought encounter.
Aaron Burns had given the Dabbers the lead with 21 minutes to go but on 75 minutes Tom Greaves made it 1-1, and Tom Brown grabbed the winner three minutes from time.
Before the game Danny Johnson had to make a change with Steve Jones pulling out injured in the warm up and Harry Clayton coming in, with Anthony Sheenan drafted to the bench.
The Dabbers made a frantic start and within 10 seconds of the game Max Harrop won a free kick on the edge of the area.
Harrop’s free kick was on target until it took a deflection and took the ball wide of the goal.
The first chance for the visitors came on two minutes, when Michael Norton beat the offside trap but Mat Bailey was on hand to block the shot.
Danny Johnson was forced to make an early change on seven minutes when Adam Jones pulled up injured, with Shaun Dowling slotting in to replace him at centre back.
Andy White could have scored a rare goal when he hit a cross come shot towards goal on 34 minutes, but it went just wide of Carnell’s goal despite Iain Howard trying to get on the end of it.
Before the game could restart, the referee Helen Bryne had to come off injured after pulling her hamstring.
In the first minute of injury time Sam Wilson had a free header from a Harrop corner but it sailed over the bar.
FC United had the first chance of the second half when Lewis Lacy had a header but it was deflected wide.
Harry Clayton almost opened the scoring when his effort had to force United goalkeeper David Carnell into a fine one handed save before the keeper was able to collect the ball at the second attempt.
Lacy then hit the bar before the follow up was blazed over by Joe Fox.
On 69 minutes the Dabbers took the lead when a ball from Harrop found Howard who played in Burns who tucked the ball past Carnell.
Nantwich could have been 2-0 up on 74 minutes, when Harrop drilled a deep cross towards goal, but Carnell gathered it under pressure.
But a minute later the game was level, when sub Tom Greaves popped up to equalise for the visitors on 75 minutes.
As the game went on, the visitors tried four on two breaks but captain Mark Jones was a rock and was able to break up the attack.
With eight minutes to go Joe Fox was withdrawn by the visitors to being replaced by Tom Brown.
And it took Brown just six minutes to make his mark when he hit a low shot to the left of Stevenson to put United in the lead.
Nantwich refused to give up and Harrop had a free kick palmed away by Carnell.
Then a minute later a half volley from Dowling was tipped wide by Carnell and it went out for a corner. But Nantwich could not make it count.
The Dabbers are next in action on Wednesday (October 15) as they visit Stalybridge Celtic away in the Cheshire Senior Cup.
Nantwich Town: Stevenson, Wilson, White, M.Jones (C), A.Jones, Bailey, Clayton, Meaney, Burns, Howard and Harrop. Subs: Dowling (On for A.Jones, 7 minutes), Blake, Winslade (on for Clayton, 79 minutes), Sheenan, Blake (on for Meaney, 83 minutes)
(Pics by Simon J Newbury Photography)
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