Not Eas-y for Town again but Jardine ensures the points go our way this time - Match report: NTFC 2 Easington Sports 1

By Matt Jones

Nuneaton Town 2-1 Easington Sports
(Harrison 3, Jardine 35 : Wade 8)
Att 518

Nuneaton Town went 3 points clear at the top of the United Counties Premier South as they were hard tested once again by Easington Sports as first half headers from James Harrison and Kyle Jardine either side of a cross from Ruden Wade that found its way in sealed the points.

The home side named the same 11 that put in a strong performance at Moulton, with Stuart Hendrie returning to the bench replacing the departed Cody Mullan. The game was dedicated to the lives of Shaun Folan, Martin Lashley and Cal Long, 3 Nuneaton Borough fans who lost their lives returning from the FA Cup game at Bournemouth 25 years ago this week.

Facing a side who had inflicted Nuneaton's first of only two league defeats this season, beating them 3-0 in sodden conditions, Nuneaton were looking to take revenge, and made the perfect start, as Jardine found some space on the right of the box to dink it to the back post straight onto the head of Harrison to find the net with less than 3 minutes gone (1-0).

Jardine nearly did the same trick again with 6 minutes gone, but the defence was wise to it this time and got bodies in the way to block it wide.

With 8 minutes gone though Easington unexpectedly hit back as left back Wade used his pace to get down the left, and his cross into the box looped over Brandon Bache and straight into the top corner, only he will know if he intended it (1-1).

Easington's game plan was to use their pace to press from the front, and front man Josh Yeboah was a nightmare for the centre backs, on 17 minutes a ball forward should have been dealt with but Yeboah stole in as Bache and Loyiso Recci left it for each other, but from the tight angle he could only put it wide.

A few more chances for the home side saw Harrison have a quick turn and shot in the box on 17 minutes, and Callum Carsley getting a tame effort on target from a free kick on 26, before Recci nearly scored an own goal as another miscommunication saw him head over his own keeper under more pressing, and luckily it fell just wide.

However fortune was to turn in the home side's favour as a corner was won at the other end shortly after, and Carsley who had been a menace from corners on Tuesday, found Jardine with another on 35 minutes, and he headed it in off the keeper to restore the lead that they would hold for the rest of the half (2-1).

Half time: Nuneaton Town 2-1 Easington Sports

The second half saw no goals, but was a scrappy affair with some interesting decisions. Jardine headed wide from Thomas on 49 minutes, whilst Eesa Sawyers nicked it off a defender trying to see the ball out for a goal kick but decided to shoot straight at the keeper rather than pass to another in a better position.

Michael McGrath got the games first yellow card, earned by some interesting reactions from the opponent as they collided in mid-air. But more confusion would follow on 61 minutes, as McGrath appeared to tap a Carsley corner into the net for a 3-1 lead, only for the referee to rule it out for what was believed to be a foul. Carsley, who had already took issue to the referee for other decisions, talked himself into a sin bin in the aftermath.

Despite being temporarily down to 10 men some good team passing split the defence and Jardine was a whisker away with his header from finishing off what would have been a great team goal.

Substitutions broke the momentum of the game up as the away side made changes but Nuneaton only one, Aaron Brown replacing Jardine with 11 to go to add some more height in the box, but both defences continued to dominate.

McGrath nearly conceded the equaliser, losing the ball in his half with 6 to go, but the defence recovered and the lead survived.

With the clock ticking into stoppage time Sawyers was adjudged to have fouled his opponent just as Brown scored from nearly the half way line with the keeper way outside the box, could have been a goal of the season contender if it had counted, but in fairness was probably the right decision this time.

Nuneaton held on for the points, and got their revenge on Easington for that defeat earlier in the season, and with March conceding a late equaliser at Newport Pagnell, the gap at the top was opened to 3 points.

Next for Nuneaton another vengeance mission as they travel to GNG Oadby Town once again looking to exorcise the demons from 2 weeks ago in the FA Vase.

Full time: Nuneaton Town 2-1 Easington Sports

Team: Bache, Thomas, Recci, McGrath, Carsley, Currithers, Somel, Jones, Sawyers, Harrison, Jardine (Brown 79)

Subs: Hendrie, Williams, Brown, Johnson, Marsden