Town can Luke forward to the next round as they see off Rovers - Match report: Godmanchester Rovers 1 Nuneaton Town 2

By Matt Jones

Godmanchester Rovers 1-2 Nuneaton Town
(Gillies 81: L Jones 67, Hendrie 69)
Att 173

Nuneaton Town made their debut in the Sports Ground Development United Counties League Cup on Saturday evening as they played their Preliminary Round game against Godmanchester Rovers in the first meeting between the two sides.

The game kicked off at 5pm at the home of nearby Yaxley FC due to continuing ground issues for Godmanchester which has meant that they have yet to play a home game this season.

Due to the unusual circumstances and some injuries Nuneaton were without a number of key players, so Kai Thomas moved to centre back and was replaced by Trevor Edwards at right back. Daniel Rachel continued in goal although Brandon Bache was on the bench. New signing Callum Gillies continued at left back after impressing last week against Bugbrooke St Michael's and second new signing Luke Jones made the bench.

As perhaps expected given the players missing, there was a lack of chances in the opening minutes, Nuneaton had a lot of possession but the Rovers defence dealt with everything comfortably. The first chance came on 18 minutes as Callum Gillies' good cross into the box was cleared away by the Rovers defender onto the back of another and Kyle Jardine's snapshot off it was deflected over the bar. Jardine then headed the corner just over.

Andre Williams nearly gave Rovers the lead shortly after as he put a shot just wide of Rachel's post, and from the goal kick Eesa Sawyers hooked the bouncing ball goalwards but it was a comfortable hold for the keeper.

Nuneaton finally started to create good chances with 35 gone, a lobbed ball over from the left from Gillies found an unmarked Jardine but he could only head straight at the keeper.

With 3 minutes left of the half Edwards channeled his inner Messi as he used good skill to jink through the defence and into the box, his square ball to Jardine saw his shot deflected over.

A free kick for each side as the half closed out failed to create the opening goal as the half finished goalless

Half time: Godmanchester Rovers 0-0 Nuneaton Town

Luke Jones was given the second half to show what he could do, replacing Sawyers. His first touch put Dante Hesson in on goal and it took a good challenge from the defender to prevent the shot.

Danico Johnson replaced Jardine on 57 minutes and his first contribution was also threatening, capitalising on a defensive error to get a quick shot away but the keeper blocked the effort.

James Harrison became the third substitution on for Hesson with a quarter of the game to go, and seconds later a back heel from Hendrie found Luke Jones in space on the edge of the box and he introduced himself to the Nuneaton faithful by hitting the shot and catching it perfectly, as it flew into the opposite corner with the keeper stranded (1-0).

With their new confidence from taking the lead Nuneaton's next attack saw Johnson's trickery set up Harrison on the left and his cross found Stuart Hendrie who got a toe on to the ball to poke it into the corner for two in two minutes (2-0).

Player coach Justin Marsden got a quarter of an hour's play himself replacing the returning Declan Somel, and Rovers looked to get themselves back in the game and did so as with 9 to play, a cross from the left into the box was unfortunately spilled by Rachel in goal and poked home by Craig Gillies despite Rachel getting a touch on the shot (2-1).

Although back in the game, Rovers failed to really test the Nuneaton defence and it held firm for the remainder of the game to see out the win and ensure safe passage to the next round.

Full time: Godmanchester Rovers 1-2 Nuneaton Town

Nuneaton Town maintained their perfect record against Step 5 sides this season, winning their 9th out of 9 in all competitions.

After the match the draw for the first round of the league cup was made, and it will see Nuneaton Town travel up the M1 to North Derbyshire to face Dronfield Town on Saturday 4th October at 3pm.

Team: Rachel, Edwards, Thomas, Recci, Gillies, Somel (Marsden 75), C Jones, Sawyers (L Jones 45), Hendrie, Hesson (Harrison 66), Jardine (Johnson 57)

Subs: Bache, Marsden, Harrison, Johnson, L Jones