By Ashley Houghton
Ten man Nantwich Town had to settle for their third consecutive home draw against a well organised Chasetown side.
And the Dabbers may be happy with the point having played most of the second half down to ten men.
Manager Jimmy Quinn retained the same starting line-up from the defeat at Bradford with Dennis Sherriff making his home debut and loan signing Jordan Connerton on the bench.
The Dabbers started brightly in the winter sunshine but Chasetown fought back with Daniel Quinn and David Bridgwater both testing home keeper Jonny Brain.
Chances were few and far between in a tight game that lacked tempo but Dabbers’ ace marksman Michael Lennon almost broke the deadlock five minutes before the break.
The 100-goal ace cut in from the right and his angled drive went agonisingly wide with Mat Bailey just unable to apply a finishing touch.
In the 50th minute, the game could have turned when Latvian Aleksandrs Solovjovs received a second yellow card for a rash challenge.
The Scholars looked to make their numerical advantage count with Bridgwater firing wide but it was the hosts who had the better opportunities to clinch victory.
Sean Cooke’s slide rule pass was slotted home by Lennon, only for it to be chalked off for offside.
Matt Lowe’s effort was blocked at close range by Chasetown keeper Ryan Price after he foraged into the opposition box.
And ten minutes from time Bailey had a fierce strike hacked off the line with Niall Maguire blazing over from the rebound.
The hard-working Cooke drifted a free kick wide but despite having added Connerton and Si Everall to the fray, the Dabbers lacked the guile and cutting edge to score.
Chasetown had late chances to nick the points. Darren Stride fired over and substitute Dean Perrow’s shot on the turn was only directed into Brain’s arms.
It was Chasetown’s first point of 2012, and a far cry from the 4-4 draw at Chasetown back in August.
It has left Nantwich 14 points adrift of the play-offs which could now be out of their reach.
Nantwich: Brain, Lowe (Everall,80), Solovjovs, MacPherson, Bailey, McDonald, Cooke, Flynn, Sherriff (Connerton,65), Lennon, Maguire. Unused subs: Aspinwall, Mitchell, Foster.
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