Jardine's late show keeps Town's Purple Patch heading towards glory over 10 man Daventry - Match report: NTFC 2 Daventry 1

By Matt Jones

Nuneaton Town 2-1 Daventry Town

(Hendrie 36, Jardine 90+6 : (May red card 45+2), Knight 67)

Att 602

Kyle Jardine stole a winner with just seconds remaining at The Oval to keep Nuneaton Town on course for the title on Saturday afternoon. A first half header from Stuart Hendrie, followed by a Daventry red card just before half time, was followed by an equaliser in the second half before Jardine found the net in stoppage time to send Nuneaton 7 points from the title.

Callum Carsley and Declan Somel were welcomed back to the team after missing the last couple of games, while Corey Currithers continued in defence in the absence of Aaron Brown and Michael McGrath. Birthday boy Justin Marsden was given a spot on the bench.

Daventry were nearly gifted an early lead within 3 minutes as Loyiso Recci tried to earn a free kick at the back but the referee denied it, leaving Josh Yeboah, Nuneaton's nemesis from the Easington Sports away defeat, through on goal, but skewed his shot awfully wide.

Daventry rather isolated Yeboah as they sought to stay deep and compact and make it hard for Nuneaton to score. Chances came more from the Daventry break as they capitalised on a defence that had several seconds to make each pass. Tom Iaciofano was booked for a late challenge on Eesa Sawyers on 20 minutes, before Burke tried to punish an error at the back, but failed to find the target.

Nuneaton started to step up the intensity around the half hour mark, Jardine found enough space on the edge of the box to curl goalwards, with the keeper beaten it was headed away from behind him. Shortly after good link up play with James Harrison, saw the winger use his feet well against two defenders, play a one-two off Jardine and curl his first time effort just wide of the far post.

At the other end Archie May somehow failed to finish off a ball squared to him across the box and with the goal gaping, only found the gloves of Brandon Bache.

Yeboah saw yellow on 33 minutes for a late challenge on Hendrie. And the latter would get the better of his opponents 3 minutes later as a long throw into the box from Kai Thomas was flicked on to Jardine at the back post via a defender, and he lifted the ball for the onrushing Hendrie to head in at the opposite post to give Nuneaton the lead on 36 minutes (1-0).

Jardine thought he'd scored himself on 42 minutes but the pass to him was made by an offside Harrison.

Just before half time it got worse for Daventry as Archie May was sent off for a clear elbow on Charlie Jones which left the midfielder with a lump on his head, however he was deemed fit to continue.

Half time: Nuneaton Town 1-0 Daventry Town

The second half was much like the first despite the extra man for Nuneaton. Yeboah could have seen a second yellow but the referee let him off with a final warning, from the free kick several Nuneaton players could have scored but somehow none did.

On the hour mark Talibeh Jallow brought a good low save from the Daventry keeper, followed by Dante Hesson replacing Harrison.

On 65 minutes Jones found himself somewhat fortunate not to be sent off for a similar offence he was on the receiving end of earlier, Daventry players screamed for a red card but he only saw yellow.

However two minutes later Nuneaton once again gave the ball away in defence, and Luke Knight was on hand to beat Bache from the edge of the box (1-1).

With 17 to play Declan Somel and Aaron Williams replaced Hendrie and Jones, seconds later Bache was forced into a point blank save from Yeboah. On 77 minutes Jallow was booked after he lost the ball on half way and grabbed his opponent to stop the counter attack.

The last 10 minutes saw Nuneaton up the intensity again and try to find the winner. On 82 Somel headed over from a Carsley cross, and Jardine headed over from CJ Nyakuhwa on the right on 88 minutes shortly after the winger had replaced Sawyers.

Just when it looked like it was heading for a draw, deep into stoppage time Yeboah inexplicably and bizarrely cleared the ball for a corner from the half way line giving Nuneaton an opportunity. The first corner was tipped over from the keeper, but on the second attempt Nuneaton's old deadly combination brought success as Carsley pinged a perfect corner straight onto Jardine's head and it flew past Lewis Patching in goal to send the home fans in to delirium (2-1).

A somewhat undeserved and fortunate win today, but with Coventry United drawing, a big win that left Nuneaton just 7 points from the title with 6 games to play. And with Atherstone in a tricky home game midweek, winning the title is now possible, although unlikely, at March if results go their way.

Full time: Nuneaton Town 2-1 Daventry Town

Next up:

Sat 14 Mar - UCL Premier South

March Town United (a)