Skelmersdale United 2 Nantwich Town 3

NANTWICH Town held off a spirited challenge from Skelmersdale, the Evo-Stik Premier Division, to stretch their unbeaten league run to 11 games.

Sean Cooke’s late penalty won the game for The Dabbers after the hosts twice came from behind.

Goals from Ryan Brooke and Steve Jones had twice put Phil Parkinson’s side ahead, but Phil Mooney and Callum Grogan struck to drag them back on both occasions.

The victory keeps Nantwich in third place and well on course for a spot in the play-offs.

Parkinson made five changes from Saturday’s draw with Grantham Town and started brightly, with Cooke and Andy White both testing Skem keeper Chris Cheetham.

They went ahead midway through the first half when Cooke sent Brooke through on goal and he calmly finished to score the club’s 100th goal of the season.

However, Skem were level before half time when a long ball caught the Dabbers defence off guard and Mooney raced onto it to beat keeper Dan Gyollai.

Nantwich emerged for the second period re-energised and it took them just two minutes to score again.

Cheetham could only parry White’s shot into the path of Jones, who had a simple tap-in.

The hosts continued to play some attractive football and caused the Nantwich defence problems, but their leveller came in controversial circumstances.

Gyollai saved a shot from Max Allan and looked to gather the ball before it went out of play, but the linesman ruled he got there too late.

From the resulting corner, the ball dropped for Grogan to turn in his second equaliser.

To their eternal credit, Nantwich went straight up the other end to record the winner as Brooke was brought down by Cheetham in the area and Cooke rifled the penalty home for his 20th goal of the season.

Nantwich welcome Coalville to the Weaver Stadium on Saturday, kick off 3pm, before hosting Warrington Town in the last four of the Cheshire Senior Cup on Tuesday, kick off 7.45pm.