Town extend lead at the top as they secure double over Steelmen - Match Report & Reaction: NTFC 2 - Bilston Town 1

Match report by Matt Jones

Nuneaton Town 2-1 Bilston Town

(Johnson 22, Carsley 75 : Sawyers 90+7)

Att 466

Nuneaton Town were back at The Oval for the start of a run of home games, as the table topping side took on second placed team Bilston Town for the second time in November.

Looking to do the double over Bilston after their late winner at Queen Street courtesy of Declan Somel's volley, Nuneaton named just one change, Louis Baker replacing Cody Mullan in the starting 11.

Nuneaton started the game brightly, looking to make home advantage count. After 6 minutes Aaron Williams had the first chance, heading over from Trevor Edwards' cross.

On 10 minutes a big chance was missed to give Town an early lead, as a cross into the box from Louis Baker, found an unmarked Danico Johnson, and, not realising how much time he had, rushed the shot and poked it wide. 3 minutes later James Harrison was played through and scored, but he was flagged for a tight looking offside.

On the quarter hour Harrison had another go, cutting inside on the left before firing an effort that was held by the Bilston keeper.

The Nuneaton pressure finally told on 22 minutes as Recci picked up the ball on the right before crossing to Johnson, who after miskicking the first shot, scored with the second (1-0).

The rest of the half followed, still with the play camped in the Bilston half, but the final ball lacking, except on 33 minutes Baker was played through on goal by Johnson and Baker somehow put the effort wide with the goal gaping.

Half time:

Nuneaton Town 1-0 Bilston Town

The second half was a much more even affair than the first half, as Bilston looked to improve. But within 3 minutes of the 2nd half starting Loyiso Recci got a toe on the end of another excellent Callum Carsley free kick, but he put the rising ball onto the top of the crossbar.

Corey Currithers saw yellow for a mistimed challenge on 54, and Matt Hill, who had been shaky with through balls so far, was beaten to one on the right hand side on the hour mark, but the effort from Bilston was cleared off the line. Hunter headed onto the bar from a further effort just a minute later. Down the other end Carsley had an effort on goal but scuffed it just wide.

On 66 minutes Recci headed over from a Carsley corner, before Cody Mullan replaced Aaron Willams as Nuneaton freshened up the midfield.

With 15 to go though, a breakaway on the left from Carsley enabled him to play a lovely one two with Johnson to play Carsley through on goal, and he slotted home under the keeper to double the lead (2-0).

James Spruce entered the play for Johnson soon after and was almost immediately on the scoresheet. A combination of himself and Baker beat the keeper to a through ball, but Spruce had his effort cleared off the line.

On 83 minutes, in frustration with a decision the Bilston manager kicked a bottle. The referee saw this and gave him a yellow card, unbelievably the yellow card was swiped away from the referee's hand and he had no option but to brandish the red card instead.

On 87 minutes a late challenge on Cody Mullan by Hall led to a reaction and Short came over to react himself. All 3 ended up in the book.

Nuneaton were holding out well until Bilston made the last couple of minutes interesting as Sawyers slotted home after getting on the end of a cross (2-1).

Although frustrating to miss the clean sheet, Nuneaton held out to claim a crucial 3 points, and double their lead to 2 points at the top of the table with Coton Green finding a late winner in their match to go 2nd.

Next up - a Midland League Cup encounter against Premier Division leaders Lichfield City on Tuesday.

Full time:

Nuneaton Town 2-1 Bilston Town

MOTM: Danico Johnson

Team: Hill, Edwards, Carsley, Recci, Perkins, Currithers, Somel, Williams (Mullan 70), Harrison, Baker (Marsden 90), Johnson (Spruce 77)

Subs: Spruce, Marsden, Hayden, Mullan, Thorpe

REACTION

Joint manager Darren Acton shared his thoughts on today's game:

'3 points on the board, really good performance from the lads today. First half we did very well, we nailed their formation, we knew what they were all about we know how they play. We did our homework on them. We were unbelievable in the first half. Second half it was more of an even game. To be fair I don't think they had a shot in the game 'til they scored in the last minute, which shows how hard the lads worked.'

On the difference between the first half and the second:

'I think Bilston went in the dressing room at half time, looked at us and thought they've got to do better. Their managers probably gave them a bit of a telling off, and changed to a 3 at the back, and made a sub. But even so I thought second half we did ok.'

On completing the double over a title rival:

'Yeah we've put a bit of a gap between us and them now. There's still a lot of games to go, a lot of mixed results and things like that so, I think it's still too early to judge but it's nice to be top of the league at this stage.'

On Tuesday's cup game at home to Lichfield City:

'A team top of the league above will be a difficult game, but it'll be good for the lads to see how far they've come.'