Harry completes Houdini job to send Nuneaton top - Match Report: Nuneaton Town 3 - Ingles 2

17 Aug

Harry Jackson scores his second and Nuneaton Town's third goal of the game to complete the comeback from being 2 goals behind at half time. Photo: Simon Kimber.

Match report by Matt Jones

Nuneaton Town's second home game of the season on Saturday afternoon saw the visit of mid table Ingles, in a first ever meeting between the two teams.

Brandon Bache and Liam Daly were unavailable for this afternoon's match, so in came dual registration keeper Ethan Pheasy, and Keenah Rosser as replacement centre back. Stuart Hendrie and James Spruce made their returns from injury and started.

It was the loan keeper who had the worst start within 60 seconds as he unfortunately miskicked straight to the Ingles no. 10 Parker, who slotted into the open goal (0-1).

That seemed to affect Nuneaton's rhythm somewhat, and the game became devoid of goal mouth action for some time. Indeed it took nearly half an hour for the blue and whites to register a shot, as Aaron Williams kicked a chance from the right side of the box over the cross bar.

On 34 mins Spruce managed to get away from his defender enough to get a shot away but dragged it wide.

After much good possession though it was Ingles who sucker punched Boro in the 43rd minute. A mix up between defender and goalkeeper allowed the no.9 Ayetine from Ingles to steal in and roll the ball under the keeper into the net (0-2).

Half time:

Nuneaton Town 0-2 Ingles

Harry Jackson came on for James Harrison at half time as Boro looked to get back into the game, but it was the 53rd minute where all the action happened. A free kick was won midway inside the Ingles half, and on came Danico Johnson for James Spruce. And from that free kick it was Keenah Rosser who stole in at the back post to get one back (1-2).

No sooner had Ingles kicked off again it was won back and Danico Johnson's pinpoint cross was turned home by Jackson as he managed to get a foot just ahead of his defender and Boro were level (2-2).

Cody Mullan came on for Aaron Williams as Nuneaton looked to complete a comeback, but it almost fell apart on 70 mins as another ball over the top caused confusion between keeper and defender, but luckily this time it was blocked and cleared away.

On 82 mins the comeback was completed. A yellow card was brandished to Mullan for pushing a defender who was trying to block a free kick being taken. But from the free kick, the clearance fell to Johnson on the left, and he jinked past his defender on the byline excellently and cut back to an unmarked Jackson, who slotted in his second to the delight of the home faithful (3-2).

A high boot from Ingles no 6 on Mullan saw him go into the book in stoppage time, but Boro held on to the lead and saw out a 4th win in 5.

Nuneaton go back to the top of the table ahead of their crunch clash at home to 2nd placed Heather St John's on Tuesday.

Full time:

Nuneaton Town 3-2 Ingles
(Rosser 53, Jackson 54, 82)

Att 428

Team: Pheasy, Edwards, Recci, Rosser, Bruce, Somel, Williams (Mullan 60), Currithers (Marsden 70), Hendrie, Spruce (Johnson 53), Harrison (Jackson 45)
Subs: Mullan, Jackson, Marsden, Birta, Johnson

Man of the Match: Danico Johnson

Joint manager Darren Acton said after the match:

'To come from 2-0 down I think the lads showed a lot of desire again, we did it Tuesday night too, but it's not something we want to have to do.'

About the 2 goals coming from mistakes:

'He's a young keeper who's come in and we've asked him to do a job. He was a bit unfortunate with the first goal. 2nd half I think he commanded his box and I think he was a lot better. I'm not going to blame him for the goals I think it was a collective team performance as well. First half we struggled, to pass the ball and to play it forward. Going 4-3-3 second half seemed to work for us. Harry and Danico came on and created goals and there's a lot of creativity in there.'

On the substitutions making a difference:

'As I've just said in the changing room it's not just about the 11 it's about the whole squad of 20 or so. There's a lot of games at the moment and utilising everyone in the squad I think it's working so far. We have lads going on holiday and stuff this time of year so it's hard to get that same 11 at the moment.'

On Tuesday's top of the table clash with Heather St John's:

'We've got to take every game as it comes whoever we come up against. It's going to be a big game, they haven't lost and we haven't lost, it should be a good and entertaining game.'

On the crowd of 458:

'They're coming back to a Nuneaton football club at the end of the day. I can't praise them enough for what they're doing, behind the scenes everything is going well. As long as it all continues going well and we perform and get results they'll keep coming in. I've been there when we've had 4-5000 in play offs so thanks to everyone who comes down!'