Nantwich Town 3 FC United of Manchester 1

 Source: Crewe Chronicle

 NANTWICH Town made it two wins in a week with an outstanding performance against FC United of Manchester on Wednesday.

Goals from Michael Lennon, Sean Cooke and Niall Maguire gave the Dabbers a well-deserved 3-1 victory at Gigg Lane.

The Dabbers started the brighter of the two sides and Maguire could have given them the lead as early as the second minute, but his 20 yard strike went just over.

United’s best chance of the first-half fell to their captain Mike Norton, Nantwich debutant Fraser McLachlan’s poor back pass was intercepted by Norton and only a good save from Jonathon Brain prevented the deadlock from being broken.

Brain was also in action on the stroke of half time as he parried Daniel Grimshaw’s shot from distance wide.

The last kick of the first half should have produced the first goal of the game, Cooke found Ben Mills inside the penalty area but the Dabbers leading marksman’s left foot shot was well saved by James Spencer.

Nantwich broke the deadlock in the 54th minute when a smart turn and shot from Cooke was only parried by Spencer and from the resulting cross Lennon tapped home his fifth goal of the season.

The lead was doubled on the hour mark,. A free-kick was awarded for a foul on Cooke and the impressive youngster picked himself up to curl the ball into the top left hand corner from 25 yards leaving Spencer routed to his spot.

The Dabbers rounded off a fantastic 10 minute spell when Maguire caressed Lennon’s pull back into the top left hand corner leaving the large home support stunned and the travelling away support jubilant.

United, who set up back in 2005 in opposition to Malcolm Glazer’s takeover at Manchester United, could have hit back immediately but for the superb Brain.

Lee Neville struck a delightful shot which looked to be heading for the top right hand corner but Brain pushed the ball wide.

An interesting last 10 minutes was set up as Richard Battersby’s corner was headed home by David Chadwick to make it 3-1.

That goal only turned out to be a consolation though and substitute Rodney Jack should have increased Nantwich’s lead but his shot was well saved by Spencer.

Sep 16 2011 by Peter Morse, Crewe Chronicle

Football: Nantwich 1 FC United 4

 Source: Crewe Chronicle

 By Peter Morse

 NANTWICH Town surrendered an early lead as they went down at home to FC United on Tuesday.

Crewe Alex loan man Jordan Connerton fired the Dabbers ahead after just four minutes of play at the Weaver Stadium.

But Matthew Wolfenden levelled a minute before the break and then fired United ahead on the hour.

Carlos Roca provided a two-goal cushion and Wolfenden completed his hat-trick, in front of a 616 crowd.

Nantwich Town 1 FC United 6 - full report

Source: Crewe Chronicle

Feb 10 2010 by Peter Morse, Crewe Chronicle

Nantwich Town 1 FC United 6

PETE Hall admitted he was too distraught to face anyone after Saturday’s humiliating defeat.

The fiercely passionate Nantwich boss was crushed by the 6-1 thrashing – a record reverse at the Weaver Stadium.

He declined to speak to Press afterwards for fear his raw emotions would spill over into print.

But the former roofer pulled no punches when he later opened up to the Chronicle.

Hall said: “I was sick after the game. Distraught. I put a massive amount of work into it. I was so up for the game. It was massive for us.

“Although the scoreline in no way reflects what the game was like, we gifted them all six goals. The players have to be responsible for their performances.

“Far too many of them are falling well below the standards they are capable of.

“You could hear a pin drop in the dressing room afterwards. I let them know how I felt.

“But now I need to galvanise the players again. We need to work hard together and I believe we can put things right.”

After losing the Premier Division play-off final in extra-time last season expectations were high for the Dabbers.

They have actually won four of their last six but their league position – 13th – is a worry.

Hall has done his best to keep the squad fresh and Harry Davis, on loan from Crewe, made his debut on Saturday.

But the teenager suffered a baptism of fire as his new team-mates crumbled all around.

United went ahead on five minutes through on-loan Macclesfield Town striker Kyle Wilson.

Nantwich quickly drew level when midfielder Glyn Blackhurst teed up Micky Lennon, but on 23 minutes Wilson’s 15-yarder made it 2-1.

Goals either side of the break, from Simon Carden and Ben Deegan, gave the Dabbers a mountain to climb in front of the 1,171 crowd.

Nantwich registered 15 attempts on goal but even when the visitors were reduced to 10-men after Ludovic Quistin received a second booking, things failed to improve.

Jerome Wright rounded keeper Lee Jones for 5-1 and former Alex trainee Wilson completed his hat-trick.

The Dabbers entertain third-bottom Frickley Athletic on Saturday before visiting Burscough on Tuesday.

Stoke City reserves will take on Arsenal reserves at the Weaver Stadium tonight (7pm).

The club is holding a half-term coaching course for youngsters from Monday to Friday next week. Call Pete Hall on 07967 634002 for details.

Nantwich Town 1 FC United 6

Source: Crewe Chronicle

Feb 8 2010 by Peter Morse, Crewe Chronicle

NANTWICH Town were humiliated at home by FC United on Saturday.

Their promotion hopes in the UniBond Premier took another blow as the visitors ran riot.

FC United were first to show when Ben Deegan headed against the bar.

On five minutes they went ahead through on loan Macclesfield Town striker Kyle Wilson after being played through by Adam Tong.

Five minutes later Nantwich drew level when midfielder Glyn Blackhurst played a delightful ball into the path of Micky Lennon whose shot on the turn beat Reds keeper Sam Ashton to square the match.

On 23 minutes hesitancy in the Nantwich defence allowed the ball to drop to Wilson whose 15 yard shot flew past Dabbers keeper Lee Jones.

On 37 minutes the visitors increased their lead minute when Nantwich failed to clear from a corner allowing Simon Carden to nip in and score.

Soon after the restart it was 4-1 when Ben Deegan driove home.

FC United were reduced to 10 men in the 70th minute when Ludovic Quistin was dismissed for deliberate hand ball after being booked earlier in the game.

But they still pressed ahead and two minutes later Jerome Wright inflicted further misery on the home side when he had the easiest of tasks in rounding his marker before slotting past Jones from close range.

The demolition was complete when Wilson completed a hat trick.

Youth football: Dabbers earn cup final date with United

Edited from: Crewe Chronicle

NATHAN Southern’s double fired Nantwich Town U18s in to a cup final against FC United.

The prolific striker got both goals in a 2-0 North West Alliance Neil Thomason Memorial Cup semi-final win over Marine.

...

UniBond League football: Nantwich Town 3 FC United of Manchester 0

Source: Crewe Chronicle

NANTWICH Town brushed aside FC United with a superb second-half display in front of more than 1,500 people at the Weaver Stadium on Saturday.

After a tight first half the Dabbers were too hot to handle for the visitors in the second and move up to third in the Premier Division thanks to the 3-0 win.

A Micky Lennon brace complimented by fine individual effort from Ash Carter got the job done.

Boss Steve Davis said: “I didn’t think we played well first half and I couldn’t wait to get in there at half time and say a few harsh words.

“In the second half we were more positive and I got the right response. We could have had even more goals but 3-0 against them is a good result.

“Some of the lads felt intimidated by the big crowd but we have got to get used to big crowds because hopefully in the next few years we will be getting them regularly.”

Fourth-placed Nantwich were without five key players for the test against fifth-placed United. Skipper Phil Parkinson (hamstring), defender Darren Tinson (tonsillitis) and suspended trio Robin Gibson, Dave Walker and Mark Beeston missed out.

The kick-off was delayed for a few minutes while the big crowd filtered in. In the 12th minute the Dabbers were the victims of a controversial decision. United defender Adam Tong handled Glyn Blackhurst’s effort on the line and a penalty was awarded. While a red card is mandatory for that offence the referee decided on a yellow. Lennon clinically dispatched his 21st goal of the season from the spot.

On the half-hour mark Lennon skipped past Tong on the edge of the area only to be hacked down. Amazingly the big defender again escaped an early bath.

Nantwich looked hungrier than ever on the restart. Whittaker and Charlie O’Loughlin had efforts cleared off the line at set-pieces, but on the hour nobody could stop Carter.

Whittaker did brilliantly to battle back and win possession and Dave MacPherson sent the winger racing clear.

Carter had a long way to go but he held off the attentions of Tong and Tunji Moses at speed and delicately lifted the ball over keeper Sam Ashton.

Nantwich were rampant now as United heads dropped. Lennon got another four minutes from time when Blackhurst intercepted and unselfishly laid him on for an easy finish.

More than 1,500 see superb Dabbers win

Feb 9 2009 by Dave Fox, Crewe Chronicle

Nantwich Town 3 FC United of Manchester 0

MICKY Lennon's brace helped Nantwich to a superb win over FC United in front of more than 1,500 at the Weaver Stadium on Saturday

The club's top-scorer now has 22 goals for the season after opening the scoring with a first-half penalty and rounding off the win with a tap-in in the second half. Winger Ash Carter got the other Dabbers goal.

Boss Steve Davis said: “I think they played a bit more football than us but we created much the better chances. Micky is looking like the player I thought he was now. I chased him for a long time and now people can see why.”

The win propelled Nantwich to third in the UniBond Premier.

Football: UniBond League

Source: Crewe Chronicle

Nantwich Town 2 Frickley Athletic 2

NANTWICH Town will have a chance to cement their place in the Premier Division play-off places in front of a bumper crowd at the Weaver Stadium on Saturday.

Non-league giants FC United of Manchester are the visitors, and with Crewe Alex playing away and Manchester United not in action, a crowd of up to 2,000 is expected.

The game could not be more finely poised. Fourth-placed Dabbers are a point ahead of their rivals and have a game in hand.

Three points could make them hard to stop. Boss Steve Davis said: “We are looking forward to the game. There is a great chance of a bumper crowd and there could hardly be a better contest for them to watch at this level.

“We have a great respect and affinity for United and we always have entertaining matches with them. Saturday should be no exception and there is a great incentive for both teams to go for the win.”

Davis went on to warn his players they must improve from last weekend’s disappointing draw if they are to get anything from the game.

The boss felt Nantwich ‘carried four or five players’ and urged the slackers to get back on form.

He added: “Teams are coming here and getting 10 men behind the ball. That is a big compliment to us, but we have to learn to deal with it.

“I singled out all our wide men – Ash Carter, Danny Griggs, Richard Smith and Liam Francis – for playing well below par and now it is up to them to do better.”

Defender Dave Whittaker reported for the game but was sent home with flu. That meant Charlie O’Loughlin was forced in to starting his first game for almost three months.

The hosts hit the front on 11 minutes. Smith lofted the ball to the near post where Dave Walker stole in to glide home his 20th goal of the season.

But it was 1-1 in the 18th minute when Frickley midfielder Darren Clarke beat keeper Lee Jones from 12 yards.

The visitors went ahead in the 57th minute when Lee Morris’ cross caught O’Loughlin out and the centre-half headed in to the roof of his own net.

Substitute Glyn Blackhurst injected life into the flagging Dabbers and in the 65th minute his knockdown into the path of Micky Lennon from a Griggs corner resulted in the striker’s 20th goal of the season.

Nantwich Town must do it all again

Sep 17 2008 by Peter Morse, Crewe Chronicle

Nantwich Town 0 FC United 0

DANNY Griggs missed a second vital penalty in eight days and now Nantwich Town must try again to progress in the FA Cup tonight.

The Dabbers could only draw with FC United of Manchester in the first qualifying round in front of a record 1,784 spectators at the Weaver Stadium on Saturday.

Winger Griggs was denied from the spot by keeper Sam Ashton with less than 15 minutes left, and frustration boiled over when Peter Heler was sent off late on.

Loan keeper Andreas Aristedou, from Blackburn, made a heroic save late on to ensure the replay, which is at Bury’s Gigg Lane (7.45pm).

Boss Steve Davis said: “It was a good game of football with little between the sides. Danny failing with the penalty was a setback and Dave Walker could have scored a couple.

“We haven’t quite got the rhythm in the side that we are used to. Credit to Andreas, he arrived for a difficult game but has come out of it with flying colours. We are indebted to Blackburn for their assistance.”

Aristedou, 19, has joined for a month after Lee Jones failed to recover from a dead leg sustained in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Leigh Genesis, during which Glyn Blackhurst’s goal earned a draw.

In the 12th minute, United keeper Ashton brilliantly tipped over from Heler’s powerful drive, and a Charlie O’Loughlin header was inches over the bar following a corner.

Ashton remained the busier of the two keepers throughout the first half and again had to repel a rasping 22-yard drive from Heler.

But in the 28th minute, former Crewe Alex professional Kyle Wilson should have given the Reds the lead but missed the target with just the keeper to beat.

Both sides had spurned second-half chances before Liam Shotton was floored in the penalty area. Griggs saw his spot kick saved by Ashton at the foot of his left-hand post.

In the 78th minute, Heler received a second caution for a heavy challenge. And in injury time, Arestidou brilliantly saved on his line from a close-range effort.

The winners of tonight’s replay have been drawn at home to FC Halifax Town in the next round, to be staged on Saturday, September 27.