Matlock Town 1 Nantwich Town 3 (From Crewe Guardian)

Matlock Town 1 Nantwich Town 3

2:59pm Thursday 3rd September 2009

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NANTWICH Town struck twice within three second-half minutes to secure a 3-1 win at Matlock Town on Monday.

After Matlock’s Ben Algar struck to cancel out Dave Whittaker’s early opener, Michael Lennon and Dave McPherson struck in the 50th and 53rd minutes respectively to kill the game off.

The Dabbers attacked from the start, winning three corners in the opening five minutes, with Glyn Blackhurst a mere whisker away from scoring with a downward header.

Six minutes later, Nantwich deservedly took the lead when central defender Whittaker popped up in the six-yard box to head home Jake Sedgemore’s corner.

Liam King tested Nantwich keeper Lee Jones with a blistering 25-yard dipping shot, while at the other end, a Blackhurst overhead kick was only just held by Adam Sollitt.

But, as the game approached the half-hour mark, Matlock began to overrun Nantwich in midfield and, in one particular edgy moment, former Chesterfield midfielder Gareth Davies was only a whisker away from a free kick just outside the area.

Nantwich regrouped to return the pressure on the home side and after Ashley Carter was fouled just outside the area, Sedgemore could only watch as his swirling free kick skimmed off the crossbar with the keeper beaten.

Then, seconds before the break, Blackhurst had a great chance to put Nantwich further ahead but his run from deep ended when he dragged his shot inches wide of Sollitt’s right-hand post.

Matlock drew level in the 47th minute when Algar was allowed too much time and space before beating Jones with a low shot from close range.

But Nantwich regained the initiative and restored their earlier lead in the 50th minute when Carter chipped the ball into the path of Lennon who coolly headed past Sollitt from close range.

The visitors went further ahead when McPherson rifled a 25-yard shot beyond the Matlock keeper into the top right-hand corner of Sollitt’s net.

Moments later Rodney Jack attempted similar from distance and was unlucky to witness his effort fall narrowly wide.

For Matlock, Ross Hannah’s 67th minute shot struck the side-netting but they offered little threat otherwise.

Nantwich: Jones, Sedgemore, Flynn, Tinson, Whittaker, Carter, Blackhurst (Aiden Carter 82), McPherson, Jack, Rhead (Southern 78), Lennon. Subs not used: Beahaut, Chapman.

Nantwich Town 2 Osset Town 0 NANTWICH bounced back after a three-game winless streak to beat Osset Town 2-0 on Saturday.

Starting without injured centre back Richie Sutton, the Dabbers were dealt a further defensive blow after five minutes when left back Chris Shaw was forced off with a broken toe.

Meanwhile, Nantwich midfielder Dave McPherson missed an opportunity to put his side ahead early in the half when he shot wide from close range.

McPherson was thwarted by Ossett keeper Liam Sutcliffe soon after before Aaron Holindrake carved out an opportunity for the visitors, only to slip while taking his shot and fire wide.

Nantwich continued to press, with former Crewe Alexandra forward Rodney Jack proving a constant threat, and the only Ossett effort of note came when winger Andy Lee broke free but skied his shot from distance.

The hosts then went ahead in the 35th minute when Matt Rhead flicked on Lee Jones’ goal kick into the path of McPherson and he slipped the ball past Sutcliffe to give Nantwich a deserved lead.

Meanwhile, Rhead went close with a glancing header before Ashley Carter cracked a right-foot shot off the bar with Sutcliffe beaten.

On 55 minutes, Nantwich increased their lead when captain Michael Lennon’s pass was nodded on by Rhead for Carter to score from close range.

Ossett were mainly restricted to long-range efforts during the second half and rarely threatened the home side.

Rhead set up Carter in the 65th minute but Sutcliffe who did well to save the winger’s blistering 15-yard strike.

Sutcliffe was called into action again to palm Jake Sedgemore’s 75th-minute free kick away, while a rare Ossett moment saw John Douglas’ close range strike deflected for a corner with Jones stranded.

Nantwich: Jones, Sedgemore, Shaw, Tinson, Flynn, McPherson, Jack, Blackhurst, Carter, Lennon, Whittaker. Subs: Rhead, Southern, Gibson, Haughton, Chapman.

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