SPENNYMOOR TOWN V NANTWICH TOWN

Northern Premier League Premier Division Play-off Semi-final 

The April showers are being delivered from the Arctic tonight, so although the walk from the car to the ground was in sunshine, as kick-off approaches at Brewery Field the clouds are grey overhead and a mixture of rain, hail and snow is falling. The spectators are gathered either in the seated grandstand or (with me) in the commodious covered terrace that runs the whole width of the pitch behind one goal.

Not a night for a drive over the Pennines, but Nantwich Town, finishing fifth, get no option as Spennymoor reap the benefit of their runners up spot in this play-off semi-final. However the league encounters between the two clubs produced a 1-1 draw here and a 2-1 home win in Cheshire so it will be tight and extra time and penalties may be needed.

Nantwich, in emerald green, seem to win the toss as they start uphill, conceding kick-off to the magpie striped Spennymoor. Downhill is toward the covered terrace so we get a good view of the early action as Johnson and Taylor combine well in attack, both getting shots away. Keeper Gyollai fields one straight at him and also deals well with a cross. When Tait, marauding from the back, is up-ended thirty-five yards out, Gyollai can get nowhere near Griffiths’ free kick, but the ball ripples the outside rather than the inside of the net.

By now the sun is back out, low in the sky and potentially problematic for Spennymoor keeper Lowson; but Nantwich struggle to get within range. A free kick does cause a bit of a scramble in the home box before a clearance is effected; however the respite is temporary as a Nantwich corner comes out to captain Hall who leathers a rising pile driver just over the bar.

Moors respond with another good turn and shot from Taylor. The clouds are back and a heavy squall provides the answer to the perennial question of how many visiting fans can stand under the tree at the away end – answer: all of them. The rain continues into half time and even the substitutes’ head for the dressing room, sparing us their usual desultory kick-about.

Spennymoor had the balance of play in the goal-less half, but defences generally were on top with neither keeper unduly exerted. Nantwich will have the slope in the second period, but the wind (and rain) is blowing the opposite way.

Again Spennymoor start positively with Ramshaw and Armstrong getting beyond the back line, but Gyollai is a commanding presence in the goal area. He is called into action again tipping a fierce shot from Chandler over the bar.

Nantwich get an occasional break and in one Hancock shows good skill to evade his marker for once, but his cross is headed wide by Harrison.

Twenty minutes into the half Ramshaw sets off on another mazy run from deep and is fouled just as he releases a pass on the edge of the box. There is no advantage, so a free kick is awarded and Griffiths lines it up again. His shot is low and under the jumping defensive wall; Gyollai flings himself full length but the shot is beyond his reach and just inside the post for the breakthrough goal.

Nantwich respond by taking off centre forward Mukendi whose extreme height has proved no advantage over the equally tall, and considerably wider, Curtis who has not given him a sniff of a chance all night. The substitute Mwasile is of a different build, small and nippy. The visitors are forced to be a bit more forward thinking that in turn gives Spennymoor opportunities to counter.

With ten minutes to go the speedy Johnson takes such an opportunity to slice through the Nantwich back line into the heart of the penalty area from where he coolly slots past the exposed Gyollai. The second goal should be a killer and his celebratory run proves his reputation as the quickest in the club – his team mates struggling to corral him for a congratulatory group hug.

Tails up, Spennymoor continue to press and Taylor has the ball in the net but from an offside position. The last knockings take place amid a positive snowstorm giving a festive air that the home fans don’t really need as they celebrate a hard earned win that gives them the chance, back here on Saturday, to clinch promotion.