Yes is the answer as Town extend lead - Match Report & Reaction: NTFC 1 - Lutterworth Athletic 0

Match report by Matt Jones

Nuneaton Town 1-0 Lutterworth Athletic
(Yessen 4)
Attendance: 506

Nuneaton Town returned to The Oval for the second of two games in 48 hours, this time at home to Lutterworth Athletic. Town were looking to do the double over their opponents after an impressive 7-1 win in Leicestershire earlier in the season.

3 changes to the win over Nuneaton Griff saw Danico Johnson's return to the side after injury, Stuart Hendrie, and Sahel Yessen making his full debut after two substitute appearances, replacing Louis Baker, James Spruce and Cody Mullan.

Yessen celebrated his first start for the club with the first chance of the game, as he picked up the ball on the right before taking on his defender, cutting inside and then lashing the ball low inside the near post after just 4 minutes (1-0).

Town continued a fast start as Callum Carsley cut the ball back towards James Harrison but it deflected out for a corner. Yessen looked to be fouled inside the box on 9 minutes but the referee didn't agree.

Despite Town's fast start Lutterworth grew into the game and had their own big chance on 14 minutes, as Taylor found space on the right and tried to replicate Yessen's goal but hit the near post. At the other end Carsley won a throw, and Danico Johnson's header back to Harrison was hit first time into the side netting.

The game managed to settle down for sometime. On 33 minutes Buckley tried an effort that whistled past Bache's post, while Harrison had a shot at the keeper on 36 that was parried away. Good work on the wing saw Trevor Edwards cross in to Hendrie but his header was wide.

Cunningham had a big chance at the end of the half for Lutterworth but Bache saved well to keep Town the lead.

Half time: Nuneaton Town 1-0 Lutterworth Athletic

Town looked to extend their lead at the start of the second half. Johnson tried an effort from range on 48 minutes, while the impressive Yessen, now playing on the left wing, nearly replicated his first half goal cutting inside onto his right foot and unleashing a shot that was saved.

Hendrie had an effort saved on 53 minutes, before Lutterworth very nearly equalised as on 59 minutes Bache could only palm an effort over his head and onto the crossbar. The ball was adjudged to have dropped on the line not over it.

Yessen had another go on 64, before Johnson and Harrison were replaced by Spruce and Mullan.

On 74 minutes a sickening clash between Spruce and Lutterworth keeper Culley in the box as a cross came in, saw Culley have to go off, and right back Pinto went in goal for the final 15 minutes.

Town battered the goal for the next few minutes trying to take advantage. Hendrie brought a great save with a header, before Dom Perkins hit the post from a free kick.

Spruce curled over in stoppage time but Town could not add a 2nd. Luckily the sheet remained clean and one goal was enough for the three points. With Heather St John's losing and Coton Green's game abandoned, Town ended a monumental 2024 five points clear at the top.

Full time: Nuneaton Town 1-0 Lutterworth Athletic

Reaction

Joint manager Darren Acton commented after the game:

'Walking out today before the game I said to Russ this looks like a proper football game today, you've got the fans walking in seeing all the blue and white scarves, I just felt something good today. The first 10 minutes we were unbelievable, getting in behind them. The new lad Sahel I thought he was outstanding. As the game went on we sat back and let them get back into it. It was a bit disappointing. I thought we'd go on and put in a great first half performance. I just thought it was average to be fair.'

On the difference between our 7-1 win at their place and this match:

'They've brought in a few new players and I think that was the difference really. They weren't bad, they battled for every ball.'

On preparing for Wednesfield next Saturday:

'Yeah we'll go into that game like any other. We just said in there, we go into each game and keep ticking them off. That's the main thing, and that's all we can do, don't worry about other teams just worry about us.'

Message to the fans after a big year:

'Just keep coming and supporting us, keep watching us. You've been fantastic all season since me and Russ have come in. Come and support and just enjoy 2025 with us!'