Unstoppable Town weather the storm to seal the title - Match Report & Reaction: Kirby Muxloe 1 Nuneaton Town 3
By Matt Jones
Kirby Muxloe 1-3 Nuneaton Town
(Recci 55, Harrison 67, Baker (p) 71)
Att 848
Nuneaton Town headed up the A47 to Kirby Muxloe looking for a 17th straight win knowing that they could be champions at the end of the match should results go in their favour.
On non-league day a bumper crowd of over 800, well over half of those from Nuneaton, made for a terrific atmosphere.
With James Spruce and Justin Marsden unavailable, and Dale Eve on International duty with Bermuda, Brandon Bache returned from injury to take his place in goal, with Jackson Acton on the bench as cover, and captain Corey Currithers returned after also being unavailable last Saturday.
Kirby started the game well, putting Nuneaton under some early pressure, buoyed by a loud home crowd. But they were unable to create any clear chances and Nuneaton grew into the game, the first real chance coming on 16 minutes as Stuart Hendrie fired wide from the edge of the box.
On 20 minutes Danico Johnson broke the offside trap to get through one on one but the Kirby keeper made himself big to deny him.
3 minutes later a speculative ball forward found Hendrie, who took advantage of a static defence to set up Johnson, who blasted his effort into the side netting.
Johnson was booked for accumulating a few fouls in the first half, whilst shortly after some scuffles in the home stand resulted in a booking for a Kirby player who went in to calm it down.
In first half stoppage time Johnson got through again and had his heels clipped into the box, the ball fell to James Harrison and his shot was somehow blocked by the keeper from just a couple of yards. Shouts for a penalty were waved away by the referee.
Half time: Kirby Muxloe 0-0 Nuneaton Town
With fans getting excited that results elsewhere were going exactly to plan, they knew that Nuneaton needed to score. The mild and sunny March afternoon began to turn wet, just as Nuneaton won a corner. Callum Carsley whipped it in to find Loyiso Recci's head, and his effort went into the top corner through the keepers fingertips to send the away fans into delirium (1-0).
Suddenly the away fans were louder, and the rain got ever heavier, and after Louis Baker replaced Johnson, Dec Somel's ball across the box found Harrison to turn it home to double the lead on 67 (2-0).
The soaked away fans in great voice were treated to another just 4 minutes later as Aaron Williams turned in the box and was tripped. Baker stepped up to slot the ball into the keeper's right corner as he dived to his left (3-0).
Kirby managed to get one back shortly after, as Ewan Lilleyman tapped home from Bache's initial save, but Town were able to see out the match with late appearances from Callum Thorpe, and Jake Lamb, on for Williams and Dom Perkins (3-1).
The full time whistle blew, and upon receipt of knowing Ingles had beaten Heather St John's, Nuneaton were able to celebrate their first league title in their first attempt, and the first for any Nuneaton Town or Borough side for 26 years.
The Nuneaton fans and players celebrated in the bar long after the game, knowing they had finally achieved something they could only have dreamed about just one year ago.
Full time: Kirby Muxloe 1-3 Nuneaton Town (C)
Team: Bache, Edwards, Recci, Perkins (Lamb 90), Carsley, Currithers, Somel (Mullan 73), Williams (Thorpe 89), Hendrie, Harrison, Johnson (Baker 63)
Subs: Mullan, Baker, Lamb, Thorpe, J Acton
REACTION
