By James Briscoe
Nantwich Town boss Danny Johnson believes his side deserved at least a point after a hard fought 1-1 draw at home to FC United.
Johnson feels the Dabbers performance in front of a bumper crowd showed signs they can compete with the best in the league.
Nantwich top scorer Aaron Burns earned the point with a finely placed header on 64 minutes.
That cancelled out FC United’s opener scored by Andrew Pearson on the stroke of half-time, when his header beat Terry Smith at the near post.
Both sides had chances to win all three points in an end-to-end second period, with Max Harrop going closest for Nantwich.
Before the game, both sets of players and supporters gave a minute’s applause in memory of former Nantwich Town and Manchester United player Ian Cooke, who died recently aged just 53.
Afterwards, Johnson said: “I thought we thoroughly deserved to come away with a point.
“The lads have dug in and to a man given us everything and again I’m proud of them.
“It’s a very good point against what is a very good FC United side. Our expectation levels this season are that we’ve got to compete and I think we’ve done that again.”
Top scorer dedicated Aaron Burns praised the supporters at the Weaver Stadium.
He said: “I thought the Dabbers fans were magnificent, the lads worked hard and deserved a point. I would like to dedicate my goal to Ian Cooke.”
Johnson rued FC’s opening goal, though: “We were really disappointed with the goal we conceded because Sam Wilson let their number five [Andrew Pearson] peal off him.
“And Terry Smith should take everything so if you think about that, we’ve come out second half and we did really well and we get the goal and we win 1-0, if not for Pearson’s goal.
“There were fine margins again but it shows we’re not far away. AFC Fylde have been here, FC United have been here, we’ve not given much away, we’re competing, we’re right in there and we’re a couple of wins away from being in that top eight and that’s where we want to be.
“Ben Deegan came on with half an hour to go, and that’s what Ben’s going to do for us at this moment in time, and that’s the game plan for me, to stay in games like this, make sure you’re not out of the game, and then in the last half hour go and see if you can impose yourself on the game.
“We’re unbeaten in three now in the league but the games are coming thick and fast, Buxton Saturday, which is never an easy game, then Chorley.
“It’s never-ending, it’s a relentless league and as long as the lads keep getting to those levels and improving their standards then we’re going to be okay.”
(All pictures courtesy of Simon J Newbury Photography)
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