Town grab three points by the Severn - Match Report & Reaction: AFC Bridgnorth 0 - Nuneaton Town 2

Dec Somel and James Harrison celebrate with scorer of NTFC's second goal James Spruce

AFC Bridgnorth 0 - Nuneaton Town 2

(Harrison 42 mins, Spruce 90 mins)

Nuneaton Town headed to Shropshire on Saturday in search of extending their unbeaten run in the league and pick up another clean sheet. They faced bottom of the league AFC Bridgnorth who based on today's determined performance will soon be heading up the table. This was the furthest away trip of the season, however Town were backed by a sizable away following of approximately 200.

Acton and Dodd were able to field an unchanged starting XI from their last league game against Allexton & New Parks, however Dec Somel returned to the squad in place of Louis Baker who was unavailable.

Nuneaton had an early chance in the 2nd minute when Carsley's cross just missed the out-stretched boot of Spruce at the back post. The next 20 minutes or so saw both teams figuring each other out and Nuneaton getting used to playing up hill on the noticeably sloped pitch. On 21 minutes, Town nearly took the lead after Callum Carsley's free kick was tipped around the post by the Bridgnorth keeper.

Carsley was in the thick of the action again on 38 minutes when he ran into the box then went down after a coming together with a Bridgnorth defender. Much to the surprise and confusion of the fans behind the goal, a free kick was awarded to Bridgnorth and Carsley was booked for a dive.

As the end of the first half approached, Nuneaton were building the pressure on the Meadow Men, and on 41 mins Cody Mullan's shot was well held by the keeper. The deadlock was broken a minute later, when Town won a corner which fell to James Harrison. His volley was hit on target into the floor and looped over the keeper. 0-1.

Half time: AFC Bridgnorth 0 - Nuneaton Town 1

The second half saw Nuneaton playing down the slope, and Spruce was causing issues for the Bridgnorth defence. On 52 mins, he won a free kick on the edge of the box and a volley a minute later nearly beat the keeper at the near post. On 57 minutes, Spruce was causing problems again but his shot was well saved. Bridgnorth were also building some attacks of their own and after a quick break away, Bache got down well to save an attempt on goal.

With twenty minutes to go, Acton and Dodd decided to make some changes and Somel replaced Williams in midfield and 4 minutes later Johnson departed for Hendrie. On 77 minutes, Bridgnorth mounted another attack and the resulting shot fired just over the bar. However Nuneaton were soon on the ascendency again and were unlucky not to score when Harrison rose to head just wide from a corner. Town made their final substitution in the 83 minute as Marsden replaced Mullan in midfield.

With just injury time remaining, Spruce sealed the win after a Justin Marsden shot was blocked but then fell nicely to Spruce to tap in front of the jubilant Nuneaton fans behind the goal. 0-2. Whitehouse came on for Spruce the remainder of the game.

The win leaves Nuneaton in 6th position on 30 points which is 4 off league leaders Smethwick Rangers with 2 games in hand. Next up see's NTFC face Gornal Athletic at home on 5th October.

Team:

Bache, Edwards, Recci, Perkins, Carsley, Currithers, Mullan (Marsden 83 mins), Williams (Somel 71 mins), Harrison (Hendrie 75 mins), Johnson, Spruce (Whitehouse 90 mins)

Subs: Hendrie, Marsden, Whitehouse, Birta, Somel

Man of the match: Trevor Edwards

Attendance: 243

REACTION:

Russell Dodd on today’s game:

“It’s been a tough game today, especially on that slope. First half, the lads had to dig in. I felt it was very much a midfield battle, very scrappy, not a lot of football played because the surface was very bobbly. But when we went in at halftime, I said to lads, they've worked hard, they dug in but we got a goal. Let's be honest. We should have scored after 20 seconds, with the cross we put across the box. I said to the lads that from the whistle ‘be sharp’ and dig in and that’s what they’ve done.”

“Our bench was strong too. We're bringing on players like Justin, Stu, Dec and Josh, and we're bringing on our lads that are coming back from injury. What I keep saying is we are not just 11 players, we talk about our squad, and we have players can come on and be as good as we are taking off, because we want to carry on the momentum. Second half, we dug in again, and in the end, they were only going to beat us on the counter. There was only one going to be one winner, or a mistake for them to score. All I can say is credit to the boys, because it's been a hard-fought game.”

Russ on finishing games off:

“I said to the players today that if they (Bridgnorth) try to shut up shop that we need to get it out wide quickly to the feet, and then you're pulling someone out of the back four. But today it was very scrappy and this was just a midfield battle game. It's just a battle. The lads have had to do to it, and I think they deserved it because they've worked so hard.”