Two against Rushall - Sean Cooke, Nantwich Town (pic by Simon J Newbury) sent off at Buxton

By Ashley Houghton
Sean Cooke’s late penalty helped Nantwich Town continue their fine away form with a 3-2 victory at Rushall Olympic’s Dales Lane.

Christian Smith and Will Jones had twice given Nantwich the lead before Dave Walker and Kyle Haynes had drawn The Pics level.

Dabbers boss Jimmy Quinn made two changes to the side beaten 3-0 by AFC Fylde with Chris Flynn and Caspar Hughes replacing Mark Beesley and Zak Foster.

In an evenly-matched opening quarter Rushall were the first to create an opening when Ahmed Obeng got in behind The Dabbers backline before placing his shot just wide.

Nantwich didn’t create many chances in the early stages, Niall Maguire went closest but his volley was well saved by Chris Gemmell.

Maguire turned provider as the first-half drew to a close to break the deadlock, he crossed well for Smith who found himself in acres of space before hammering a left-foot shot past Gemmell.

That lead lasted 42 seconds though as Obeng and Walker played a nice one-two before the latter placed past Jonny Brain from inside the six-yard box.

The Dabbers reacted to that goal in the best way possible, with seconds left in the first-half Smith’s sweetly struck free-kick was palmed by Gemmell straight into the path of Jones who nodded home from three yards to score his second goal for The Dabbers since joining from Burscough.

Nantwich started the second-half brightly and nearly extended their lead when Sean Cooke’s 25-yard drive swerved wickedly forcing Gemmell to make a smart save.

The Pics equalised just before the hour-mark as Haynes was the quickest to react to Obeng’s cross and he slid the ball past Brain.

Jones then went close for Nantwich before Darren Moss looked to have squandered their best opportunity to win the game when he found himself in acres of space in the Rushall penalty area.

But the former Crewe Alexandra defender was tackled by Gavin Caines as he tried to get the ball onto his preferred right foot.

As the game was heading for a draw the Midlands outfit were inches from scoring a winner as substitute Hakeem Islam’s header was wonderfully saved by Brain.

That save inspired a late Dabbers push and Nantwich substitute Josh Lane intercepted Haynes’ back-pass before rounding Gemmell, who was forced to bring him down inside the box for a penalty.

Cooke smashed the ball down the middle past Gemmell’s despairing dive securing a vital three points.

Nantwich: Brain, Flynn, Short, Hughes, Moss, McDonald, Cooke, Smith (McLachlan, 80), M. Bailey © (Lane, 87), Jones (Wilson, 79), Maguire. Subs: Beesley, Foster.

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