Five Star Town Take The Biscuit As Gingerbreads Crumble - Match Report: Nuneaton Town 5 Grantham Town 0

Nuneaton Town 5-0 Grantham Town
(Rajter og 7, Stretton 13, Jones 44, Atem 77, Sawyers 85)
Attendance: 444
Report by Matt Jones

Nuneaton Town baked up a one sided victory on Tuesday night as they swept aside early high flyers Grantham Town in brutal fashion.

An early own goal, followed by further efforts from Bradley Stretton and Charlie Jones saw the home side go in 3 to the good at half time, before Terry Atem netted against his former club, with Eesa Sawyers capping a terrific game with a late fifth.

After Town ended a run of four straight defeats with a grinding victory against another of the early pacesetters Shepshed Dynamo at the weekend in blustery conditions, Nuneaton went into the game with confidence despite the recent departures of the two James’ in Armson and Harrison in recent days, and looked to add to their tally against another of last season’s promoted sides.

Having had a thrilling 6 goal encounter in the United Counties League Cup last season including a penalty shootout, goals were likely in this fixture again, and so it proved as barely 6 minutes were on the board before Josh Green’s long throw once again proved deadly as Grantham defender Rajter, got his defensive header all wrong and with the keeper slow to react it nestled into the corner for an own goal (1-0).

Grantham looked to reply immediately and Czerwak brought a good save from Finn Osborn, who returned to the side following an injury to Gabriel Bajrami. But just 6 minutes after the first goal it was two, as Eesa Sawyers who was causing the defence nightmares on the left, turned his defenders inside out before driving into the box and cutting back to Bradley Stretton, who found a yard to fire into the corner with the help of a deflection (2-0).

Nuneaton held the ball with a comfort not seen since last season, and the frustrated away side could only muster yellow cards and speculative efforts, as first Czerwak then Jacklin went into the book. Declan Somel could have added a third as the Grantham keeper Steggles kicked a clearance straight to him on the half way line. Somel was quick to try the lob but it dropped harmlessly wide.

A few chances came as Osborn was called into another save, this time from a corner, and with the ball crossed back into the box, Rushden could only head wide. However Osborn needed some help a couple of minutes later as Grantham won the ball back in the box, and Harry Chesterton was quick to take advantage of some hesitation from the forward, and block the shot on goal. Almost immediately Nuneaton went straight down the other end and punished that miss, as Sawyers was once again involved as he tried to set up Caine Elliott for a strike, however although his effort was blocked, he was quick to pick up the loose ball on the byline and cut back to Charlie Jones who curled it beautifully from the edge of the box into the goal. Remarkably, both the second and third goals found the triangular bar just inside the goal and bounced back out, but both were thankfully given (3-0).

Half time: Nuneaton Town 3-0 Grantham Town

The second half started as a less intense affair as Nuneaton looked to keep possession against a fresh Grantham side with 3 substitutes on at half time. Bradley Stretton’s effort on 48 minutes flashed inches from the top corner, but other than that it took until 63 minutes for either side to register a threatening effort. Grantham won a free kick which was headed out to Smith and he was quick to hit a venomous shot on the turn which rattled off the outside of the post. Five minutes later Stretton again tried to double his tally for the night as he brought a good save from Steggles’ feet after beating his defender. 

Following a booking for Aaron Roberts and Corey Currithers entering the field replacing Declan Somel, Nuneaton again broke away with pace, as the electric Sawyers was involved again. Having been put through on the left by Elliott, he drove into the box once again, and his blocked shot gave the unmarked Terry Atem the easiest of finishes to notch his second goal in three days (4-0). Atem was warmly applauded as he left the field seconds later to be replaced by Liam Murphy, with Bradley Stretton having his ovation as he left the field just a minute later to be replaced by Stuart Hendrie.

Having already been involved in most of the goalscoring, it seemed fitting that the final goal came from Sawyers. Murphy found space in the box but with some hesitation saw his shot blocked, however he was quick to pick up the loose ball and cut back to Sawyers, who jinked past a couple of the defenders before wrong footing the keeper with his effort that flew in at the near post (5-0). He was also immediately substituted and received acclaim from the 400 or so home fans, as he was replaced by Marley Sweenie-Rowe. 

Murphy nearly scored his first goal as the clock ticked into stoppage time, but the keeper made a good block to prevent a sixth. Elliott nearly repeated Atem’s trick from Saturday a minute later as he closed down the keeper and won the ball. Having got his body in the way he was bundled over inside the box but somehow a penalty wasn’t given. So five it stayed and having gone from 18th to 7th in 3 days, the table made for better reading after the game as Nuneaton overtook their opponents in the table by getting the 4 goal margin at least required.

Full time: Nuneaton Town 5-0 Grantham Town

Next up: St Ives Town (a) Mon 28 Sep

Team: Osborn, Green, Shilton, Roberts, Chesterton, Elliott, Somel (Currithers 72), Jones, Stretton (Hendrie 81), Sawyers (Sweenie-Rowe 86), Atem (Murphy 80)

Subs: Sweenie-Rowe, Hendrie, Brown, Murphy, Currithers