Nuneaton 'Just' on the spot to progress in the cup - Match Report and Reaction: Chelmsley Town 1 - Nuneaton Town 3 (MFL Cup)

Dom Perkins celebrates after scoring the first NTFC goal - Photo by Simon Kimber

Chelmsley Town 1-3 Nuneaton Town
(Rose 83:Perkins 6, Marsden 79 (pen), Johnson 85)

Nuneaton Town travelled to the scene of their first away league game, Pack Meadow in Coleshill, this time in the first round of the cup, to play Chelmsley Town on Monday night.

Liam Daly returned to the side following his suspension, as Town fielded a more familiar side.

It took just 6 minutes for Nuneaton to open the scoring, as a free kick was won just past the half way line on the right, Aaron Williams lob into the box was deflected off the same defender first by Corey Currithers then by Louis Baker, but off the latter it fell kindly to Dominic Perkins who turned and slotted home (1-0).

Nuneaton would have expected to have pushed on for more goals against a team who had won just once this season, but found Chelmsley difficult to get past. And the front three found themselves offside when they did manage to break through the back line. Half chances came on 10 minutes as Williams fired over after good link up play from Baker and Trevor Edwards. James Harrison had a go from the edge of the box on 16, but was just over. Nuneaton's best opportunity aside from the goal came from Edwards whipped cross into the box that just glanced the crossbar and out for a throw.

Chelmsley could have scored themselves on 33 as a misplaced pass at the back had them through on goal, Oscar Jackson sliced it well wide. They were through again on 37, but it was deflected wide of Brandon Bache's far post. The corner was cleared off the line twice as Nuneaton clinged onto the lead and saw the half out.

Half time: Chelmsley Town 0-1 Nuneaton Town

Nuneaton rang the changes at half time as Harrison, Recci and Currithers came off, and Cody Mullan, Alfie Birta and Danico Johnson came on, as they looked to improve on the first half. However again they struggled to get through a stubborn Chelmsley defence.

Mullan saw yellow for a late challenge on 49 mins, although the referee took some time to blow for the foul. Baker had the first chance of the half on 55 as he got away down the left wing, chopped inside his defender but scuffed the shot wide of the near post. Fiifi Kwoffe had a chance 2 minutes later for Chelmsley but he also fired wide.

Danico Johnson could have finally got the goal his performance last week deserved as he got through on the right on 61, but with the keeper closing quickly Johnson rounded him but the angle was too tight to get the shot on target.

Nuneaton sent on Justin Marsden and Josh Whitehouse, for James Spruce and Aaron Williams, midway through the 2nd half as they looked to finally put the game to bed, but they had to wait for a bit longer for that, as on 75 minutes Mullan fired wide from the edge of the box, and having won a corner Liam Daly got his header on target but it was kept out.

Johnson finally got the big chance Nuneaton needed on 77 minutes as he got away from his defender on the right and was hauled down for a penalty. Marsden stepped up after some discussion and showed calmness to curl the ball in off the keepers left hand post, having sent him the wrong way (2-0).

That should have been the game, but Chelmsley had other ideas. Just four minutes later a mix up at the back allowed Mark Rose to tap home from a cross from the left corner (2-1). Daly thought he had been fouled in losing the ball but the referee decided to send him to the sin bin for 10 minutes for his complaints.

Stuart Hendrie was booked just a minute later for a late challenge, but Nuneaton cleared the free kick, and a misplaced pass across the back fell straight to Danico Johnson who finally got his goal and finally sealed the win for Nuneaton (3-1).

Daly returned to the field in stoppage time, but Nuneaton had done enough to beat a stubborn Chelmsley team, and get through to play Birstall United in the 2nd round at the end of October.

Full time:

Chelmsley Town 1-3 Nuneaton Town

Team:

Bache, Edwards, Daly, Recci (Birta 45), Perkins, Currithers (Mullan 45), Hendrie, Williams (Marsden 66), Spruce (Whitehouse 66), Baker, Harrison (Johnson 45)

Subs:

Mullan, Marsden, (Josh) Whitehouse, Birta, Johnson

Man of the Match:

Trevor Edwards

Attendance: 152

Reaction:

Joint manager Darren Acton commented after the game:

'Happy, disappointed, we're through to the next round, but tonight I don't think we played at all well. It's disappointing because with the last 3 games we've played some really good football, but tonight we've dropped down to a level I haven't seen before. We will bounce straight back from that. We should come into games and play well even on Monday nights. I'm happy about the result but disappointed how we played.'

About the difficulties finishing the game off:

'Respect to them (Chelmsley) as well, they stood their ground, they held it well, made it difficult to break through them. We said at half time we need to move the ball more but even when we did they closed us down pretty well. Credit to them they had a game plan they know we're an attacking team and they stopped us from playing.'

About Liam Daly's return to the side:

'Liam's a good player we know that, but it's a squad game and whoever comes in we expect them to do well. We still need that big squad because we've got a lot of games coming up again.'

Regarding Danico Johnson on the scoresheet after 6 assists last week:

'Danico is always someone who will always give you something and create something but that's the whole team we create a lot of chances, which is proven by how many goals we've scored. We've got everyone who can pop up with a goal.'

Looking ahead to Saturday at Bridgnorth:

'Yeah it's going to be a great day, I'm pretty sure Bridgnorth will be ready for it, we've got to be ready for it as well. The lads will maybe have a bit of a training session Thursday see how things are. It's going to be good day, a great day for the fans, great for us to travel on the coach with the fans. That's what me and Russ have came in to do, to get that fans/players togetherness back together and it'll be a good day out for Nuneaton Town Football Club.'