Four-midable Town do the double over Wednesfield to stay on track - Match report & Reaction: NTFC 4 Wednesfield 1

Match report by Matt Jones

Nuneaton Town 4-1 Wednesfield
(Yessen 33, Mullan 43, Baker 52, Harrison 81: Novis 80)

Attendance: 379

Nuneaton Town took on Wednesfield on Saturday afternoon looking to at least maintain their 5 point lead at the top of the Midland League Division 1.

In came Louis Baker for Danico Johnson whilst Sahel Yessen who impressed against Lutterworth kept his place on the wing. Cody Mullan also replaced James Harrison who dropped to the bench.

Within 70 seconds of the start shouts for handball in the Wednesfield box were rejected by the referee. 9 minutes in Wednesfield worked a shot that was scuffed wide, while 2 minutes later Callum Carsley tried to catch the keeper out with a free kick from outside the box, and whilst the keeper spilled the shot, offside was given on the rebound.

13 minutes in Declan Somel volleyed a Sahel Yessen cross over the bar.

Carsley tried his luck again from a free kick on 22 which the keeper this time tipped round the post. 5 minutes later Town keeper Brandon Bache managed to scramble to prevent a short backpass from creating a goal for the away side.

Wednesfield had another big chance on 31 as Herbert flashed an effort wide, and they were punished for that 2 minutes later, as Yessen chased down a ball forward down the right and stole the ball from the defender trying to shield it out for a goal kick, and with players in the middle marked, decided to go himself and fire low into the corner for the opening goal (1-0).

Louis Baker nearly made it two in two minutes but his shot in the box was saved.

On 43 minutes the lead was doubled as Somel won the ball on the left and although Cody Mullans off balance first effort was blocked by the keeper, he managed to divert the ball into the top corner from the floor (2-0).

Half time:

Nuneaton Town 2-0 Wednesfield

Nuneaton started the second half on the front foot, and 3 minutes in, Yessen stung the fingertips of the keeper, and from the corner Loyiso Recci had his header tipped over. Somel headed over from the next corner.

On 52 minutes, a ball forward on the left to Louis Baker was rolled low into the corner as the keeper advanced to close down the shot (3-0).

Stuart Hendrie nearly added to the lead immediately but his curling shot was saved by the keeper. Mullan had his own effort tipped onto the bar on 58. Wednesfield narrowly avoided an own goal on 62 as Carsleys cross skimmed the head of the defender and bounced inches wide.

Aaron Williams, Danico Johnson and James Spruce replaced Yessen, Somel and Baker, as Town freshened the team. But on 80 minutes a cross into the back post was headed home by Ben Novis as Wednesfield got on the scoresheet (3-1).

Unperturbed by conceding, Town got back down the other end within a minute as Johnson got hold of the ball in the box and backheeled perfectly to Harrison who took a touch and fired low into the corner (4-1).

Nuneaton settled the game down for the final 10 minutes as they secured the double over Wednesfield, and kept their 5 point lead at the top ahead of this Saturday's crucial top of the table clash at Coton Green.

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