Dabbers move to top spot (From Crewe Guardian)

Dabbers move to top spot

1:46pm Thursday 1st October 2009

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Kings Lynn 0 Nantwich Town 3.

NANTWICH moved to the top of the UniBond Premier Division table on goal difference from Kendal Town after an emphatic win in Norfolk.

Confusion reigned over an impending ban involving Dave McPherson,which led to the FA advising Nantwich not to play the Dabbers midfielder due to the referee’s report not being in their possession.

The game opened in lively fashion with the pace of Kings Lynn front pairing Joe Magunda and Peterborough United loan forward Kwesi Appiah causing Nantwich full backs Charlie Reeves and Chris Flynn problems.

Appiah then shrugged off his marker to deliver a close range header but Dabbers’ goalkeeper Lee Jones reacted in the nick of time to pull off a valuable save.

However, Nantwich stood their ground and a Jake Sedgemore free kick was met by Matt Rhead whose effort unfortunately missed the target whilst moments later a Rhead header went straight to Linnets goalkeeper Danny Gay.

Meanwhile, the game continued to switch ends with the Continued from page 24 Dabbers defence having to remain on alert to the continuous threat of Magunda and Appiah.

Midway through the first half Michael Lennon and Ashley Carter both had good opportunities with close-range headers that fell wide of the target.

On 24 minutes, Glyn Blackhurst spotted Gay off his line but despite lofting the ball over the Kings Lynn No1 his effort narrowly cleared the bar.

Chris Flynn was then the victim of a strong challenge from Linnets midfielder Owen Story but was able to continue following treatment.

Nantwich went ahead on 34 minutes through Ashley Carter, who latched on to a Jake Sedgemore pass and after gaining advantage of a defensive error between Gay and Nathaniel Rowe-Turner the Dabbers winger applied the finishing touch from close range.

The home side continued to apply pressure but as the half wore on the Dabbers grew in confidence and were unlucky not to go further ahead in added time after Lennon went close with a header.

Ten minutes into the second half the pace of Dabbers winger Omar Mahmoud took him past the Kings Lynn defence before squaring the ball into the path of the overlapping Rhead whose powerful shot flew up off the body of Gay before clearance by the defence.

At the other end, a mix up in the Nantwich defence presented Linnets leading scorer Anthony Robinson with an opportunity but he fluffed his chance when well placed.

Nantwich were then struck with an injury blow – a reccurring hamstring injury forcing Chris Flynn to retire before replacement by Dave Whittaker leaving Nantwich to reshuffle their defence.

Moments later, Darren Tinson went down heavily under a challenge on the halfway line but was able to continue after treatment.

Meanwhile, the home side were finding Nantwich a hard nut to crack and Jake Sedgemore was most unfortunate to see his powerful 25-yard strike sail past a post by the narrowest of margins.

Nantwich went further ahead on 59 minutes following great build-up play between Carter and Mahmoud, with Rhead meeting the young Egyptian winger’s cross before applying a neat finish from eight yards.

A Mahmoud corner was met by Rhead whose bullet header went beyond Gay to deservedly put Nantwich 3-0 ahead on the hour mark.

Aaron Carter replaced the tiring Charlie Reeves and with 15 minutes remaining Rodney Jack replaced the hard working Rhead with the former Crewe Alex forward straight into the action when he received a clinical pass from Sedgemore.

However, Jack was desperately unlucky as his close-range shot was hacked off the line.

The hosts continued to put Nantwich under pressure but, to their credit, the Dabbers soaked up everything that was thrown at them with goalkeeper Lee Jones having a relatively untroubled afternoon.

Nantwich Town: Jones, Reeves, Flynn, Sutton, Tinson, Sedgemore, Mahmoud, Blackhurst, Rhead, Lennon, Carter. Substitutes: Jack, Aaron Carter, Whittaker, Chapman.

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