Nantwich Town thumped 0-4 in final home game of season

Nantwich Town ended their home league campaign in disappointing fashion with a 0-4 defeat to Avro FC.

The Dabbers came into the game on the back of a 5-1 win over bottom of the league Darlaston.

But they were well beaten by Avro, who are chasing Bury for the automatic promotion spot.

Panter and Connolly had early half chances for Nantwich in a balanced opening to the game.

But Avro took the lead on 17 minutes with a fine strike by Harry Salt across keeper Ben Garratt and into the corner.

Salt tested Garratt again soon after as the visitors began to exert control, and he went close with a header which was narrowly wide.

The Dabbers almost levelled on 36 minutes but no one could tap home a teasing Bircumshaw cross.

Rooney and Piggott also had decent attempts to equalise before the break, but Avro went in to half-time in the lead.

Avro doubled their advantage on 67 minutes when Nantwich’s defence was caught out by a short corner and James Simms bundled the ball in from close range.

It took the wind out of Nantwich’s sails and the visitors then scored two quick-fire goals in the 77th and 78th minutes.

Firstly, Darrhyl Mason rolled it past Garratt in the Dabbers goal when he beat the offside trap to make it 0-3.

And Mason grabbed his second when the Nantwich defence sloppily gave the ball away and he raced through to fire home.

They almost grabbed a fifth late on but Garratt produced a good save to deny Ehimamlegho.

The visitors did blot their copybook in the final minute when Maphosa was shown a straight red for a lunging challenge.

But the game was already done and Avro ran out comfortable winners.

The defeat leaves Nantwich in 11th place in the Northern Premier League West division.

(pics by Jonathan White)