Nantwich Town suffered their worst defeat of the season as they slumped to a 3-0 loss against Silsden AFC in the FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round, writes Liam Price.
Alex Panter got a start for the Dabbers after his excellent recent form in one of two changes from the win over Trafford.
Kelvin Mellor started the first attack of the game and may have finished it with the opening goal, trading passes with Aidy Roxburgh he stumbled over the ball in the box as he tried to get a shot away.
In horrendous weather conditions, Joel Connolly decided to try his luck from an early free kick but Tommy Brown was up to it and held well.
Josh Williams then whipped in a free kick that Mellor glanced on towards goal but it zipped wide.
Isaac Robinson had the home side’s only effort of note in the first half, curling straight at Ben Garratt.
The second half saw the Cobbydalers come to life as weather conditions deteriorated further.
Kayle Price has been continuing the form after Silsden got promoted, and Garratt had to come off his line to make a save from Price on the hour mark.
The home side did take the lead halfway through the second half.
A corner was knocked back to the taker Tobias Jeffrey, who crossed again and saw Ben Hockenhull leap and send the ball looping off his head and into the far corner, leaving Garratt with no chance.
Three minutes later they doubled their lead.
Nantwich’s defensive shape had deserted them and a ball from the right was rolled in by an unmarked Alhassane Keita.
Price tested Garratt a couple more times as Silsden picked off the Dabbers either with simple balls over the top or well worked counter attacks.
Williams saw a free kick pushed away by Brown as Nantwich tried in vain to get back into the tie.
Insult was added to injury in the last minute of stoppage time.
Panter has been in terrific form but got involved in a couple of scuffles and was given no help by the referee’s decisions in the game.
After one of these resulted in him getting booked, Silsden took a quick throw in that caught the Nantwich backline out and Price was able to finish low and get what for him was a deserved goal.
Nantwich manager Jon Moran said afterwards he felt Nantwich controlled a large majority of the game, but agreed the hosts were good value for the win.
There were other factors included heavily delayed travel meant a truncated warm up and delayed kick off.
(Images courtesy of Jonathan White)
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