Lewie Tilley Sports News

By Lewie Tilley

Luke Goddard named an unchanged eleven from the midweek thrashing of Darlaston, but did bring Kelvin Mellor back into the squad, with the club captain named amongst the substitutes.

For the visitors Avro, dropping points was not an option, as current league leaders Bury could secure the title and promotion as champions before this game.

The Dabbers were hit with an unfortunate injury early on in the game as AFC Fylde loanee, Mason McKay, pulled up and had to be replaced with what looked like a hamstring injury.

Avro put some early pressure on their title rivals with a goal within 20 minutes as Darrhyl Mason cut the ball back to Harry Salt, who rolled it into the bottom corner for 1-0.

Salt looked to grab another in quick succession as the ball was reworked to him after Paddy Kennedy cleared a cross from Mason, but Ben Garratt did well to save his effort.

Nantwich did have a golden chance to equalise quickly after, as Joe Piggott delivered a wonderful cross that found Byron Moore in the box, but his header whistled over the bar.

Taylor Dyson then had a great opportunity to really calm some nerves with a free kick right on the edge of the box after Joe Robbins was booked for the challenge. Avro’s number seven tried to catch Garratt out with a curling effort towards his side, but he was alert to palm it away.

Perry Bircumshaw, who replaced McKay early on, received the ball and drove a cross towards Alex Panter at the back post that was cleared for an Avro counterattack. Ethan Kershaw found space on the right wing and floated another cross towards Mason, who got up early but headed into the side netting.

The Dabbers had yet another massive chance to level the scoreline as Bircumshaw did very well to win a corner. Joel Connolly’s whipped ball fell to Adam Rooney at the back post, but the central defender couldn’t react quickly enough to connect cleanly and sliced it over the bar.

Just minutes later, Nantwich had another big chance with the Avro defence on the ropes. Piggott delivered another cross that was palmed into a dangerous area by Cameron Mason. Bircumshaw was first to the loose ball but scuffed his shot into Mason’s hands.

Avro started the second half much the better side and almost doubled the lead as their number nine brought down a long ball, ran at the Nantwich defence, before cutting onto his left foot and curling a low effort that clipped the left post with Garratt diving.

The league title challengers did eventually get a second when they caught out the Dabbers with a short corner. Adam Owen received the ball and swung in a low cross that was flicked into the net by James Simms for 2-0.

Avro had another opportunity to secure all three points with another goal as Dyson’s whipped cross was headed just over the bar by Mason from inside the box.

The three points were signed, sealed and delivered to Avro as Mason finally took his opportunity with a quickfire double.  He got his first after latching onto it on the left wing, outpacing Rooney and guiding it goalwards, making it 3-0 as the ball dribbled over the line.

Just a minute later, the on-form striker was played in behind after a mistake at the back by Rooney, giving Darren Ehimamiegho time to find Mason, who made no mistake adding the Ro’s fourth, placing it past Garratt.

Simms had a chance to top off an outstanding attacking performance as he had space to test Garratt once again, but the ex-Crewe goalkeeper saved well down low again.

Second-half substitute Fortune Maphosa was later sent off for Avro after diving into a late challenge on Mellor with the game coming to a close.

The Dabbers had a flurry of chances to grab a consolation goal late in the match, as Callum Saunders saw one of his two headers saved, with another going over the bar.

The Dabbers’ final game of the season will see them head to Wythenshawe Town on Saturday 25th April at the Ericstan Stadium, with Goddard’s men still in the hunt for 8th place.

Feature picture by Jonathon White