Hatters’ interest in Cheshire Senior Cup ends at hands of Nantwich
COUNTY bowed out of the Cheshire Senior Cup at the Weaver Stadium a week ago last night, as holders Nantwich Town deservedly went through to their third successive Final.
Two goals for the ‘Dabbers’ immediately either side of half-time were followed by a third with 10 minutes remaining to end the Hatters’ interest in a competition that they last won - at Nantwich, against Tranmere - in 2016.
As in previous rounds, several County regulars were rested for the Semi-final - although the usual mix of firstteamers and Academy members or graduates on this occasion included four senior players who had not featured at earlier stages.
One of them, leading scorer Matty Warburton, looked lively in the opening exchanges, as he drilled one shot wide of the right post and saw another deflected past the opposite upright.
And home goalkeeper Will Jääskeläinen - son of retired Finnish custodian, Jussi - did well to parry away a Scott Duxbury strike from outside the box.
At the other end, Ian Ormson blocked a snap-shot by Jamie Morgan - before venturing out of his area to break up a further attack, and watching with relief from no man’s land as Sean Cooke chipped wide of an empty net from distance.
But, just as the Hatters looked set to go in at the break goalless for a fifth match running, Nantwich took an added-time lead, after Cooke’s shot from beyond County’s area hit the inside of the left post and Morgan reacted
quickest to turn in the rebound.
The Evo-Stik Premier hosts, with the wind behind them upon resuming, earned their first corner of the evening two minutes after the interval - and consequentially doubled the advantage, as Cooke’s delivery from the left found Joel Stair who struck home from close range.
Just ahead of the hour, Nantwich gained a further chance of increasing the lead through the award of a penalty - following Jordan Downing’s foul on much-travelled, 39-yearold Jamaican striker Ricardo Fuller. But Ormson guessed correctly in diving to his right to parry behind Toby Mullarkey’s mid-height kick.
Ormson prevented further goals by holding on to Cooke’s free-kick, and gathering a Caspar Hughes shot through a crowded box - but had little chance when, after 80 minutes, a flowing Nantwich move saw Cooke set up substitute Callum Saunders, who fired low into the bottom-right corner to settle the tie.