Town flying Kai as four-midable home record continues against 10 man Rangers - Match Report: Nuneaton Town 4 Sileby Rangers 0

By Matt Jones

Nuneaton Town 4-0 Northampton Sileby Rangers
(Recci 22, Jardine 37, Thomas 45+3, Williams 81)
Attendance: 536

Nuneaton Town returned to The Oval on Saturday afternoon looking to extend an unbeaten start to the season to 11 matches. The opponents were Northampton Sileby Rangers.

Before the game a minute's silence was observed for Chichester City player Billy Vigar who tragically passed away from head injuries sustained in last weekend's Isthmian League Premier match at Wingate & Finchley.

Nuneaton made a shaky start, giving the ball away a few times in the opening minutes as the tall forward line of Rangers looked to press. George Herbert capitalised on one of these, unleashing the first shot on target with just a minute gone.

A chance a piece rounded out the first 10 as Callum Carsley fired wide off balance, before one of the Kuffur Netham brothers Richard brought a low fingertip save from Brandon Bache.

Declan Somel cut inside on 15 minutes and had a shot that looped up off a defender into the keepers hands, as Town wrestled control of the match, and Jardine had the ball in the net from a Carsley cross but was given offside. Nuneaton's frustration didn't last long though as on 22 minutes a corner into the box went all the way through and was kept in by Carsley. His dink to the back post was pounced upon by Loyiso Recci who had stayed upfield and he headed in to give Nuneaton the lead (1-0).

Rangers kept working hard, but were kept to only pot shots from the edge of the box, Milton Arthur volleyed wide on 26 minutes before the other Kuffur Netham brother Jethro lashed a half volley on target that was well saved, either side of a Charlie Jones effort for Nuneaton.

With 37 gone, a bit of pinball in the box lead to Carsley putting a ball across goal that may have been intended for the bottom corner, Jardine made sure of the goal by tapping in at the back post (2-0).

Once Richard Kuffur Netham wasted a great chance to pull one straight back, Nuneaton still had time to add to their lead before half time, as Kai Thomas and Eesa Sawyers found themselves 2 on 1 on the right hand side, Thomas fed Sawyers on the wing, with Sawyers playing the ball back to Thomas in the box to slot in under the keeper for his first goal for Nuneaton Town (3-0).

Half time: Nuneaton Town 3-0 Northampton Sileby Rangers

Nuneaton nearly turned the screw once again as the 2nd half started as Sawyers used his electric pace to latch onto a through ball over the top on the left hand side, but couldn't quite poke the ball under the keeper as he managed to block with his feet before catching. However Sawyers would have the better of him 5 minutes later as this time on the right he forced Jesse Bedford in goal to grab the ball out of the air to prevent a through ball reaching him, but he was adjudged to have handled outside the penalty area. After initially being given a yellow card the referee spoke to his assistant and changed it to a red card.

After all that was sorted out Carsley whipped the free kick towards goal. And having beaten the stand in keeper the ball agonisingly rattled off the post.

With an eye on Tuesday and with Rangers 3 goals and a man down, Nuneaton rang the changes, Danico Johnson and Aaron Williams getting useful minutes giving Kyle Jardine and Declan Somel a rest, followed by Dante Hesson on for Stuart Hendrie, then Luke Jones for Corey Currithers who was taken off as a precaution after receiving treatment.

The red card had only resulted in killing the game off with Nuneaton feeling comfortable to see out the win. They were nearly punished as Arthur nearly squeezed in a shot at Bache's near post, but a strong toe from the Nuneaton keeper pushed it onto the post and he was able to grab the ball before it crossed the line.

With one final change, Aaron Brown on for Loyiso Recci with 12 to go, Nuneaton found some joy with a wide open Carsley on the left, and after the stand-in keeper did well to save Sawyers effort from a Carsley cross, he completed a hattrick of assists as he found Williams with another one just two minutes later, and this time the ball was headed home (4-0).

Nuneaton saw out the game with comfort, and completed a 9th win in 11 games, maintaining their 6 point gap at the top.

Full time: Nuneaton Town 4-0 Northampton Sileby Rangers

Next up - Dudley Town (h) Birmingham Senior Cup 1st Round Tuesday 30th September 7:45pm