The Late Late Show sees Town win at Chenecks - Match Report: Northampton ON Chenecks 1 Nuneaton Town 3

By George Kirk

Nuneaton Town salvaged a huge victory on the road, with two very late goals to secure three points against a tough Northampton ON Chenecks side.

After Ijah Augustine cancelled out Kyle Jardine’s early opener, Town were forced to dig in, as Michael McGrath and Eesa Sawyers found the back of the net, to claim a vital win.

The result further cements Town’s place at the top of the table, going seven points clear of 2nd place Aylestone Park in the process.

Kick-Off

From the start, Town knew they had a game on their hands, as the Chens hit forward on the counter attack, with the physicality and pace on the attack proving to be a real test.

Despite this, Nuneaton would open the scoring when in the 8th minute, Eesa Sawyers battled down the line, crossing in to find the ‘Prolific’ Kyle Jardine, who leaped highest to nod in.

The visitors would continue to grow in confidence from this, as Jardine almost grabbed a second, heading towards the top left corner from a Kai Thomas long throw, but was unable to beat Bradley Lashley in the Northampton goal.

Twenty three minutes in, the Chens would make a substitution that would completely change the game, bringing on powerhouse striker Tyrun Primus for Lewis Irwin.

It wouldn’t take long for the Chenecks to profit from this early change, as a chaotic corner resulted in Ijah Augustine blasting in the equaliser eleven minutes later.

The home side would continue to push forward following this, but would be unable to break down the Town backline.

Half-Time: Northampton ON Chenecks 1-1 Nuneaton Town

The second half would be a very scrappy affair, with one bright spark being ‘Sensational’ Sawyers, seeming to be the only player able to get his foot on the ball, controlling the right hand side, which was shown early, dribbling into the box forcing Lashley into a decent save.

Not long after, a huge chance fell to the visitors, as Alex Graham made a fantastic save off a one on one that somehow bounced back off the striker’s leg going fractionally wide.

This acted as a real wake up call for Acco and Doddsy’s men, who found Jardine in the box, but could only fire his effort straight at the keeper.

With only a few minutes to go, Nuneaton needed someone to step up and make a difference, and who else but Callum Carsley, whipping in one of his signature crosses from a free-kick, with ‘Big’ Michael McGrath towering in at the back post, to snatch the lead in the 87th minute.

From then on, the Chens would very much throw the kitchen sink at it, pushing the whole team forward to try and claim something from the game, but would be caught cold in the fourth minute of added time, when Jardine flicked the ball behind for Sawyers, giving him all the time in the world to strike into the back of the net, securing a huge in for the Town.

Full Time: Northampton ON Chenecks 1-3 Nuneaton Town

MOTM: Eesa Sawyers

Attendance: 147

Team: Alex Graham, Kai Thomas, Callum Carsley, Corey Currithers ©, Michael McGrath (G 87’), Loyiso Recci, Cody Mullan (Somel 68’), Kyle Jardine (G 8’, Jones 90+4’),  James Harrison (Brown 80’), Eesa Sawyers (G 90+4), Alex Lock (Johnson 80’)

Substitutes: Declan Somel, Dante Hesson, Aaron Brown, Danico Johnson, Charlie Jones

Next-Up: Nuneaton Town return to League cup action, as they take on Coventry United at The Oval, on Saturday 1st November, with a 3pm kick-off.