Recci's winner wrecked by late equaliser - Match report and reaction: Smethwick Rangers 1 - Nuneaton Town 1

Loyiso Recci heads home the NTFC goal

Match report by Matt Jones

Smethwick Rangers 1-1 Nuneaton Town
Saturday 31 August 2024

Nuneaton Town travelled to the Boldmere St Michael's ground for their match with tenants Smethwick Rangers on Saturday afternoon.

In came temp keeper Kurtis Selly-Hayward to cover for Brandon Bache who was carrying an injury from Monday's match with Griff, but should be back for Wednesday’s game against Bilston.

Nuneaton started the game on the front foot but clear cut chances were few and far between despite a lot of possession. Smethwick's first chance came on 12 minutes as they won a free kick just outside the Nuneaton box, but the wall did its job.

At the other end Stuart Hendrie nearly caught out the Smethwick defence with a corner that nearly curled straight into the net, but was headed out for another one. A throw in was won off that corner and Liam Daly headed straight at the keeper.

Town continued to pepper the Rangers goal to no avail, Stuart Hendrie and James Harrison both having efforts blocked on 20 minutes and Harrison firing wide on the half hour.

The game became more dramatic just before half time, as Declan Somel collided with a Smethwick player and had to go off with suspected concussion, being replaced by Louis Baker. In the midst of that, Smethwick's number 9 got into an argument with the referee, and it resulted in him being sent off.

Half time: Smethwick Rangers 0-0 Nuneaton Town

The first 15 minutes of the second half started much like the first, with lots of Nuneaton possession but lacking in chances, Smethwick looking to hang on with their 10 men.

James Spruce and Harrison Bruce replaced James Harrison and Liam Stringer as Town looked to fresh legs to try and get ahead. And it nearly had immediate effect as Danico Johnson spotted Louis Baker at the back post but he fired just over the bar, and Baker again received the ball on the edge of the box a couple of minutes later, then chested and volleyed the ball towards goal, the ball unluckily cannoning off the base of the post.

Justin Marsden replaced Corey Currithers on 73 minutes. And on 79 minutes Nuneaton finally made the breakthrough.

A corner was won and it found Daly who headed back to Loyiso Recci and his own header found a gap between defence and post to sneak into the net (1-0).

Nuneaton were happy to take that result out of the game, and were seeing it out when disaster struck in the last minute. Smethwick got away on the break and Marsden hacked down their player to stop the break and take a yellow card. The free kick was punted into the box and somehow confusion between defence and keeper meant the ball bounced directly in to deny Nuneaton two valuable points (1-1).

Full time: Smethwick Rangers 1-1 Nuneaton Town

Att 191

NTFC Team: Selly-Hayward, Edwards, Recci, Daly, Stringer (Bruce 55), Currithers (Marsden 73), Somel (Baker 44), Mullan, Hendrie, Johnson, Harrison (Spruce 61)

Subs: Birta, Spruce, Marsden, Harrison, Bruce
Away fans man of the match picked by Aaron and Liam Phillips: Danico Johnson

REACTION:

Joint manager Darren Acton said after the game:

'We started off the game well, had a good first 10 minutes, and then we seemed to let them back into it and it became a more even game first half. We got into good areas again but we didn't work the keeper enough. We have to work the keeper more.'

On the sending off:

'The lad was going at the referee and it was only a matter of time before he sent him off. Does 10 men change things? Not all the time. Second half I think though we did come out and dominate the game a bit more.'

The goal coming from a set piece:

'Yeah we've scored from a set piece, we also look at Louis' shot hitting the keepers face, and another one off the post, these are the kind of things that aren't quite going for us at the moment. But Liam in the box again to head it back to Loyiso and we score off it.'

On the last minute equaliser to draw 1-1:

'I think as a keeper you have to manage it better, a ball like that to land in the 6 yard box it should be keepers ball, so whether you shout 'away' or not you've got to dominate that 6 yard box.'

On Wednesdays game away at Bilston:

'Yeah another tough game, they're a good side. Hopefully we'll have a few there on Wednesday, it's another new ground to go to, a nice ground, but it'll be a tough game.'