Victory and a clean sheet for Dabbers

Andy Kinsey

NANTWICH Town got back on the trail of league leaders FC United with a thumping 4-0 victory over St Helens Town.

Andy Kinsey (2), Andy Bott and Matty Platt were on target as they bounced back from a midweek 2-2 draw against Congleton in style.

After early dominance, Bott finally got the Dabbers on their way with a sliding finish on 27 minutes and it should have been more before the break.

Danny Griggs, Adam Beasley and Kinsey all had chances to inflicted further misery on the struggling home side.

A couple of warning signs later and Nantwich captain Phil Parkinson inspired them to extend that lead.

Bursting through the middle, he released Kinsey who made no mistake with only keeper Leather to beat on 52 minutes.

Some further dicey moments had the nerves jangling before Kinsey added a third, burying good work from substitute Platt, eight minutes from time.

He bagged one himself late on, unleashing a dipping shot from an acute angle that went through the arms of the keeper and into the bottom corner.

Nantwich's seventh win in nine puts them third in the NWC Division table, now 11 points behind the rogue Red Devils with two games in hand.

Player boss Steve Davis says they've got to try and stay with the leaders.

"It was a good result at St Helens and good to keep a clean sheet, believe it or not it was our first this season," he said.

"Teams have seemed to punish us lately, if they've only had one shot it's gone in.

"So the clean sheet will give Rob (Hackney) and the defence a little more confidence.

"We've got to base our results on clean sheets because at the end of the day, goal difference may end up very important in this league.

"We were gutted to concede with only four minutes to go against Congleton so we picked ourselves up well after that.

"It looks like FC United are going to take some stopping.

"I can't see them going the whole season unbeaten but I suppose you never know and if they do, they deserve the title.

Nantwich look for another victory at Squires Gate on Saturday.

"We've got to try and win every game if we're going to cling on to them," added Davis.

"The important thing is to make sure they don't get too far away and try and turn the tables when we play them."