By James Briscoe
A late penalty from Nantwich Town substitute Joe Guest earned his team a fourth win in five.
Guest’s strike helped the Dabbers overcome a spirited Frickley Athletic who put in their own late flourish.
The visitors’ towering centre back Patrece Liburd tripped Guest as he weaved his way towards Jamie Green’s goal on 86 minutes.
The foul earned Liburd a second yellow and a sending off.
The penalty brought relief to the Dabbers’ faithful who had two minutes earlier seen Frickley’s Jake Picton make it two goals apiece on 84 minutes.
Picton capitalised on a weak Ryan Dicker header meant for goalkeeper Jon Brain, and finished coolly over the in-form stopper.
Nantwich made a confident start and Caspar Hughes played a calm pass to Harry Clayton who surged past Jason Yates to fire across Green and open the scoring on four minutes.
The joy of the home fans was short lived, though, and Frickley’s Jamie Wootton glanced a header beyond Nantwich’s Brain from a Yates’ free kick on six minutes.
Following their equaliser, The Blues were on top for a 20-minute period as Nantwich looked shell-shocked.
But it was not long before the home side rediscovered their passing game and started to dominate possession again.
On 26 minutes Charles Raglan hit home on the Frickley back post from a PJ Hudson corner.
Nantwich’s defence looked comfortable until half time and the home side’s narrow lead seemed strong.
In the second half Frickley’s strong centre forward Allott gave the Nantwich defence the runaround, and put Chris Howarth through on goal but his shot was saved by Brain on 80 minutes.
Nantwich seemed satisfied to maintain their lead in the second half, however Picton’s late goal meant the Dabbers had to push again for a winner.
Substitute Guest managed to create and score the necessary third goal from the penalty spot and Nantwich could have scored a fourth in added time as Kyle Wilson hit the bar with Clayton heading in only to be adjudged offside.
The Dabbers could go 12th in the Evo-Stik Premier League if they win their game in hand over Ilkeston FC and Whitby Town.
Nantwich: Jon Brain; Aaron Cole, Chris Bailey, Charles Raglan (c), Ryan Dicker; Caspar Hughes (Joe Guest 82), Niall Maguire, Oliver Devenney, Harry Clayton, PJ Hudson (Josh Lane 77); Tom Bentham (Kyle Wilson 54). Subs: Darren Moss, Zak Foster.
(Pics by Simon J Newbury Photography)
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