North sends Town's double chances south in Walsall - Match report: NTFC 0 Cradley Town 1 (Midweek Floodlit Cup Final)

Match report by Matt Jones

Cradley Town 1-0 Nuneaton Town
(North 22)

Att: 1008

League champions Nuneaton Town looked to complete a double on Wednesday night as they faced Cradley Town for a third time this season, in the Midweek Floodlit Challenge Cup Final.

Due to traffic on the M6 kick off was delayed until 8pm.

Backed by over 1000 of their own fans, Nuneaton named their strongest possible line up. The Town fans were raucously backing their team, whilst the two teams sized each other up in the opening minutes. The first chance came after 8 minutes, as Danico Johnson was played through and had his shot blocked, James Spruce hit the rebound wide.

Within seconds Cradley were on the attack down the right, and the low cross into the box was attacked by Traevay Wright and Town goalkeeper Brandon Bache simultaneously and the boot of Wright caught Bache on the head, causing a lengthy stoppage which resulted in Bache having to be substituted despite his intentions to play on. Wright somehow escaped punishment.

With young keeper Jackson Acton not named on the bench, it fell to Louis Baker to replace the stricken Bache in between the sticks.

On 22 minutes Cradley took the lead as, under pressure from Wright, who had been subject to a chorus of boos with every touch since the incident, Loyiso Recci intended to head the ball into Baker's gloves, but instead headed past him, and Callum North was on hand to tap it into the empty net (0-1).

In truth Cradley had carried little threat and the fortune that created their goal was of great irritation to the Town team. Recci went into the book on 29 mins for a late challenge on Wright, whilst 3 minutes later Spruce made a good forward run towards the box and was hacked down on the edge of it by Gillies, who was carded. Johnson took the free kick but it went inches wide.

A frustrated Town had a few more half chances with Dom Perkins on 40 minutes whistling a shot over, and Johnson putting an overhead kick from a corner wide in stoppage time.

Half time: Cradley Town 1-0 Nuneaton Town

The second half started with Nuneaton reset and ready to assault the Cradley goal, but their centre backs were defending resolutely with their head and feet to anything Nuneaton threw at them. Stuart Hendrie had the first real chance on 57 minutes as a shot from distance was held by the keeper.

Cradley could have got a second as they got through on the left just seconds later but Baker looked solid as he saved the effort.

On 61 minutes James Harrison and Cody Mullan replaced James Spruce and Declan Somel, and Harrison nearly scored with his first touch as a terrific ball into the box from Carsley was met by Harrison but his volley hit the bar and went over.

Cradley again had a chance to put the game to bed on 73 minutes as Wright got through one on one but Baker was excellent in closing him down and smothering the effort.

Justin Marsden freshened up the attack with 17 to play as he replaced Johnson, and Till went into the book for lobbing Baker well after being called offside.

Town went full on attack in the dying minutes trying to take the game to penalties, Perkins got into the box and his square pass was sliced agonisingly just wide by the defender. Corey Currithers saved a good chance for a Cradley second, as he hacked his attacker down on the edge of the box, the free kick sliced horribly as he slipped.

With one last throw of the dice, last week's match winner Callum Thorpe replaced Perkins, but bar a succession of corners that couldn't find a man, even when Baker went up in the dying seconds, and a Marsden effort that went well over, that was all that Nuneaton could muster against an immovable Cradley defence.

The full time whistle blew and Cradley celebrated their cup win, but Nuneaton fans reminded their team of their achievements this season with rapturous applause and song. Nuneaton will be back again in the summer, in Step 5, and with bigger trophies to play for. Their first, and hopefully only, attempt at this trophy ended in failure at the last hurdle, but they will have the chance to renew old rivalries in the Birmingham Senior Cup again next season, along with the FA Cup and Vase.

All in all a disappointing end but a very successful season nonetheless, and Nuneaton Town can enjoy their break and look forward to next season.

Full time: Cradley Town 1-0 Nuneaton Town

Team:

Bache (Baker 16), Edwards, Recci, Perkins (Thorpe 90), Carsley, Currithers, Somel (Mullan 61), Williams, Hendrie, Spruce (Harrison 61), Johnson (Marsden 73)

Subs:

Mullan, Marsden, Harrison, Baker, Thorpe