Sawyers Charms the Adders to send Town Top on Derby Day - Match Report: Atherstone Town 1 NTFC 2
By George Kirk
For the second game in a row, Nuneaton Town comeback from a goal down, to secure all three points in the highly anticipated North Warwickshire Derby away to Atherstone Town.
Second half goals from talisman Kyle Jardine and Eesa Sawyers cancelled out Lewis Collins 30th minute opener, to ensure bragging rights for Acco and Doddsy’s men, as well as their fourth league victory on the spin, maintaining Nuneaton’s perfect start sending them top in the process.
The Adders proved to be Town’s toughest test so far, with Nuneaton having to survive a barrage of efforts late on to cement the win.
Kick-Off
The opening to the game was a nervy affair, with both teams clearly feeling the occasion in front of over a thousand fans at Sheepy Road.
This would be further proven when a Aaron Brown’s clearance was almost spilled into the path of Kyle Jardine by Adders keeper Jake Bull.
Callum Carsley would make his mark midway through the first half, flying in with a crunching tackle that you’d be used to seeing in a North Warwickshire Derby, earning a yellow card in the process, livening up the game.
The first key chance came in the 31st minute, as Lewis Collins would break the deadlock for the home side, converting from close range following some decent play from the Adders.
A real wake-up call for the away side, who responded by firing a couple of efforts at the opposition goal, but were both easily saved.
This pressure would get even worse for Atherstone, when tempers flared seeing Jack Edwards yellow carded for a late tackle and Niall Rowe sin-binned, leaving home-side down ten men for the final minutes of the half.
Despite this, Nuneaton were unable to profit, with Jardine’s audacious overhead kick at the end of the half looping just over.
Half-Time: Atherstone Town 1-0 Nuneaton Town
For the second game in a row, Acco and Doddsy’s half-time team talk seemed to sink in from the start second half, as not soon after the restart Town were awarded a penalty.
Up step Jardine, who made no mistake from the spot, firing into the right of the goal in the 47th minute.
From that moment on Nuneaton looked revitalised, with Jardine starring yet again to help grab a second in the 60th minute, this time playing a defence splitting through ball to Eesa Sawyers, who made no mistake rounding the keeper and slotting home. Comeback Complete.
Jardine almost grabbed a third, capitalising on a defensive mistake, but was unable to convert from a tight angle.
The final fifteen minutes, would be a cagey display, as the Adders pushed for the equaliser forcing Nuneaton into a backs to the wall performance.
Corey Currithers showed every reason why he was worthy of wearing the captains armband with a heroic last ditch tackle to hold on.
Town fans were especially biting their nails late on when in two minutes, Nuneaton went from almost securing the game as Jardine blazed over a golden opportunity, to losing it in the final second when Atherstone headed inches wide from a corner.
Nuneaton Town just about held on to a huge derby day win to claim North Warwickshire bragging rights, against a side that will certainly be up there at the end of the season.
Full Time: Atherstone Town 1-2 Nuneaton Town
Man of the Match: Eesa Sawyers
Attendance: 1290
Team: Brandon Bache, Kai Thomas (Edwards 88’), Callum Carsley (Y 21’), Corey Currithers (C, Y 53’), Aaron Brown, Loyiso Recci, Declan Somel, Kyle Jardine, Aaron Williams (Marsden 85’), Eesa Sawyers (Jones 80’), James Harrison (Spruce 68’)
Substitutes: Trevor Edwards, James Spruce, Charlie Jones, Dante Hesson, Justin Marsden
Next-Up: Nuneaton Town are on the road again, as they travel to Hamilton Park to face Leicester Nirvana in the league, on Saturday 16th August with a 3pm Kick-Off time.
