Nantwich Town slipped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat away at Clitheroe who won for the first time in six games, writes Liam Price.
The Dabbers made only one change from the 2-0 win at Chasetown at the weekend with Fenton Green replacing Paddy Jarrett.
Danny Wilkins lashed an early effort wide for the home side from a corner and Byron Moore headed over from the Dabbers’ first corner.
Nantwich came agonisingly close to opening the scoring from another corner but it was cleared off the line twice as they tried to force the ball home.
Feeling that luck was maybe on their side, the home team took the lead on the half hour.
A low ball from Jordan Windass on the right seemed to catch the Dabbers defence off guard and it was forced in by Harry Scarborough who got there ahead of his man.
Anwar Murtesa was also on target with a free kick for the hosts but Ben Garratt was able to hold.
Scarborough was lurking again in the penalty area and was well found. The difference this time was Paddy Kennedy being able to block his effort.
Nantwich equalised six minutes before half time.
A ball over the top found its target as Byron Harrison brilliantly brought it down and fed Alex Panter.
He took a touch or two to get it out of his body and another to fire in low across Hadi to make it 1-1.
Panter (pictured) is now joint top of the NPL West golden boot race with two others on 16 goals.
In the second half, Moore had a sniff of an opening but his shot was quickly charged down.
James Baillie swept a free kick on the edge of the box wide after Panter had been brought down on the D.
Joel Connolly, playing more advanced with Jarrett on the bench, missed the target with a difficult shot, before both he and Joe Robbins had to be subbed with slight injuries.
The home side then largely bossed the last 20 minutes of the game.
Windass was a danger from the right flank again with his pinpoint low crosses and Nantwich did not learn the lessons of the first goal.
Another who impressed was Jack Morris, dropping deep to receive then turning and running at and invariably past his man as the home side tightened their grip.
Garratt did well to dive at the feet of Luke Gill who’d come on at half time.
Then there was an undoubted goal-saving block tackle by Kennedy near the penalty spot.
But the pressure did tell moments later.
Windass fired the ball hard and low into the box and he hit it well enough that it went off the far post and in.
The Dabbers tried different personnel on that side with Baillie, Perry Bircumshaw, Moore then Jordan Hodkin ahead of them but none of them were able to contain Windass.
Naturally the home side dropped back but there weren’t many chances to equalise until deep in stoppage time.
A ball from the right found its way to Hodkin but he fired it wide when it looked easier to score.
Defeat leaves Nantwich in 10th place in Northern Premier League West.
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