Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

DROYLSDEN 2 – 1 NUNEATON TOWN

Blue Square Bet North – Saturday 20 August 2011

Report by Gary Owen

This was the proverbial game of two halves, with the visitors bossing the opening period and deserving their lead, then Droylsden dominating matters after the break, but for long spells looking like it wasn’t going to be their day.

An early Dan Gardner free kick was a yard too high after Gareth Noon had tripped Domaine Rouse, but it was the visitors who registered the first shot on target through Robbie Burns, although it was straight at Paul Phillips.

From Burns’ good work, Adam Walker pulled a shot wide for Nuneaton, before he was presented with another opportunity, but then elected to shoot with the frustrated Lee Smith better placed.

It was little surprise, then, when Nuneaton took the lead on 24 minutes. Mark Noon released Burns on the half way line, and he attacked the space ahead of him and drew Phillips before finding the far corner.

Droylsden had a great chance to level moments later, but Dale Johnson was denied by a good stop from Neil Collett when one-on-one after he had been found in the box by Gardner.

Rouse headed a Droylsden corner back into the danger area, and Chris Brown steered his header wide of the opposite upright with Collett beaten.

As the half drew to a close, Phillips collected a deflected daisy-cutter from Smith, but Nuneaton were good value for their interval lead.

Bloods’ boss Dave Pace sent his men out a full five minutes earlier than their opponents, and the hair-dryer treatment seemed to have worked, with John Hardiker going close on two occasions, the second of which was headed off his own line by Gareth Noon.

The hosts created chances but without testing Collett and it looked like Nuneaton might hold on for their first win of the season, as Droylsden began to feel frustrated.

However, with 12 minutes remaining, Danny Rowe showed good feet to make it three in three when he turned and slotted past Collett from just inside the box to level matters.

The hosts gained momentum from this, and a Carlos Logan low ball ran agonisingly across the face of goal, with home substitute David Poole just unable to apply the finishing touch at the far post.

Droylsden then won a free kick on the right flank, and Logan’s delivery was steered past Collett by Chris Brown’s head to open his account for the club on 84 minutes.

Nuneaton felt aggrieved and tried to take something from the game in what little time remained, but Sam Belcher shot over and the ex-Wycombe Wanderers man almost got on the end of a Burns cross in added time, but Droylsden had done enough to secure the win, which sees The Bloods remain amongst the early season pace-setters.

TEAMS

Droylsden:

Phillips, Anane, Logan, Brown C., Hardiker, Brown P. (Hall, 70’), Gardner (Gerrard, 53’), Killeen, Rowe, Johnson, Rouse (Poole, 33’).

Subs. not used: Vaughan, Lake.

Nuneaton Town:

Collett, Hadland, Aaron, Noon M., Noon G., Albrighton, Walker, Lavery (Belcher, 67’), Moore (Marsden, 87’), Smith (Glover, 76’), Burns.

Subs. not used: Nisevic, Armson.

ATTENDANCE: 328

REFEREE: Mr. Ben Toner (Lancashire)