A goal in the final minute of injury time by Adam Jones gave Nantwich Town a thrilling 3-2 win over Frickley Athletic, writes Richard Scott.
The visitors took the lead just before half time from Gavin Allot before second half goals from an Adam Pepper penalty and Alex Meaney put the Dabbers 2-1 up.
Macauley Parkinson made it 2-2 in the final minute, but Nantwich took all three points when man of the match Jones (pictured) headed home to win the game.
The first real chance of the game fell to Frickley’s Ryan Williams, but his shot was straight at Dabbers keeper Terry Smith.
The first Nantwich chance saw Alex Meaney crossing but Mark Winslade and Harry Clayton couldn’t find a way past Ben Simpson in the Frickley goal.
The visitors thought they were ahead when Allot free kick was parried by Smith and Jameel Ible followed up but the flag was up for offside.
Nantwich boss Danny Johnson was forced to make an early change on 26 minutes, when Mat Bailey pulled up with an injury.
Scott Lycett was brought on to play right back, while Sam Wilson moved into the heart of the defence.
The Dabbers should have been 1-0 up on 34 minutes when Winslade sprinted down the line and his cross found Vinnie Mukendi but his header ran across goal.
The opening goal of the game came on 40 minutes when a long ball from Frickley found Allot who managed to lift the ball past Smith.
Either side of the interval Harry Clayton had chances to score but Simpson in the Frickley goal was on hand to deny the winger.
On 56 minutes sub Lycett played a good ball into Mukendi but his header was to drift just wide.
Just two minutes later, the Dabbers were level when Kyle Harrison brought down Clayton leaving the referee no option to point to the spot and caution Harrison.
Up stepped Pepper and the midfielder hit a fine penalty to send Simpson the wrong way.
On 60 minutes, Winslade was looking to go though on goal and John Cyrus brought the fast forward down.
The referee booked Cyrus and resulting free kick was cleared eventually by Frickley.
The Dabbers will be wondering how they hadn’t gone ahead when Andy White hit the post and the ball bounced back to Mukendi but his shot went over the bar.
But they did take the lead when captain Mark Jones broke forward and his squared pass found Meaney inside the area and he fired the ball home.
The visitors thought they were heading home with a point when a long throw from Jack Wakefield ensured a goal-mouth scramble and Parkinson was on hand to poke the ball past Smith to level the game.
But the Dabbers got the win they deserved when a 92nd minute cross from the left hand side found Adam Jones.
He climbed high into the air to head into the far corner to the delight of around 200 fans.
Nantwich Town: Smith, Wilson, White, M.Jones (C), A.Jones, Bailey, Pepper, Winslade, Clayton and Meaney. Subs: Lycett (on for Bailey, 26 min), Blake (on for Meaney, 85 min), Johnson (on for Winslade, 62 min), Dowling and Callaghan.
(pic by Simon J Newbury Photography)
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