By James Briscoe
Nantwich Town stumbled a to a 1-0 home defeat as Trafford snatched the points at the Weaver Stadium.
Trafford’s skipper Martyn Andrews headed home a corner 10 minutes from time in a tight mid-table encounter in the rain.
Danny Johnson’s carved out the better chances in the first period but succumbed to their first home defeat since October to a solid Trafford outfit.
There were few chances in the first half but it was the hosts who had the best of them.
On the half hour, a quick free-kick from Max Harrop released Aaron Burns but his stinging drive was parried away by Tom Read in the Trafford goal.
The visitors goal survived an almighty melee before Ben Deegan headed into the path of Burns but the former Manchester United youth drifted his header off target.
Trafford released the pressure when Andrews put a free header wide of the target when he should have done better but the Dabbers almost took the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Left back Andy White found himself as the furthest man forward but glanced his header just over the bar from Andy Keogh’s driven cross.
Soon after the interval, White again was well advanced but the former Crewe Alexandra youngster was thwarted on a one against one with Read.
Fifteen minutes from time Shelton Payne almost broke the deadlock after he was neatly set up by former Nantwich winger Simon Hackney but a fingertip save from Steve James denied the Trafford marksman.
The hosts responded immediately with Aaron Burns heading Nick Haughton’s cross against the bar but the Trafford defence scrambled away the rebound.
Then, with the game seemingly heading towards a goalless stalemate and Nantwich recording their first clean sheet for three months, Andrews atoned for his earlier miss, rising to nod the ball into the top corner of James’ goal from 10 yards out.
The Dabbers failed to show the urgency or intensity needed to get back on terms and could have fallen further behind in stoppage time.
Dangerman Payne broke through only to steer his shot from the edge of the area just wide of the upright.
Nantwich: James, Wilson, White, Keogh, Davis, Pearson, Haughton, Jones, Burns, Deegan, Harrop. Subs: Foster (for Deegan, 60), Green (for Burns, 82), Meaney (for Keogh,70), Clayton, Eastwood.
Recent Comments