Downer: Prescot..2 Nantwich..0

3:47pm Thursday 30th October 2008

NANTWICH Town boss Steve Davis blasted his players for an FA Cup hangover on Tuesday night.

Reeling from Saturday’s dramatic 4-3 exit at Fleetwood, the Dabbers went down to a 2-0 defeat at Prescot Cables.

“It was even worse than the defeat to Ossett Town, and I didn't think I would see one worse than that," he said.

"Everyone looked as though they were frightened to make a mistake.

“It was shocking.

“Perhaps the manner in which we went out of the FA Cup was lingering in their minds.

“If that is the case, they had better clear their heads by Saturday for the FA Trophy."

Nantwich had started brightly but began to fade when Mark Besston went off injured.

And they were trailing when Dave Walker’s poor backpass let in Prescot striker Darren Byers who made no mistake on the half-hour.

Disaster struck again give minutes before the break when Richard Smith conceded a penalty put away by Steve Moore.

Nantwich improved after the break and both Danny Griggs and Walker saw efforts go close only to be cleared off the line.

But there was no way back as a bad week grew worse on the final whistle.

It could have been so different had Nantwich made the first round of the FA Cup.

Goals from Micky Lennon, Ashley Carter and Walker had given them the lead three time at Blue Square North side Fleetwood but suffered last-minute heartache.

Veteran keeper Lee Jones raced out but missed the ball, allowing hat-trick hero Andy Bell to seal the tie.

“It was very frustrating,” added Davis.

“We played well and it was a brilliant game but they were more clinical. We didn’t defend well enough after our goals and their winner was a culmination of mistakes from ourselves and the officials.

“The ball clearly went out of play during the build-up but we made some terrible decisions.

“It’s just a shame we couldn’t at least have got the replay we deserved.”

Nantwich travel to Rugby Town in the FA Trophy on Saturday with Osset Town at the Weaver on Tuesday.