Ten man Town hold on against Rangers to reach the final - Match Report & Reaction: NTFC 2 - Smethwick Rangers 1

Match report by Matt Jones

Nuneaton Town 2-1 Smethwick Rangers
(Thorpe 43, Mullan 72 : Edwards 31)

Attendance: 242
Total raised for the Back to Nuneaton Fund on the night: £1058

Nuneaton Town took a break from league action on Tuesday as they looked to reach a first cup final under the new structure. The opponent was Smethwick Rangers, a team that gave Nuneaton a tricky time in their league game earlier on in the season.

With an eye on the league Nuneaton rotated, Matt Gardner was given his debut, and Callum Thorpe made a rare start. Josh Whitehouse returned to the squad as Stuart Hendrie picked up a knock on Saturday and was missing, Justin Marsden also came back to the squad after missing the last few weeks.

Nuneaton were nearly in front inside 2 mins, Callum Carsley whipped a free kick into the box, but Dominic Perkins header landed straight into the keeper's hands.

17 minutes in, Gardner and Harrison both had chances within seconds but both were blocked and saved respectively, Recci headed over the corner.

Cody Mullan saw yellow on 22 as he mistimed a challenge, and on 26 mins Brandon Bache was called into action as he had to grab a dangerous cross ahead of the Rangers attack.

However 5 minutes later his goal would be breached, as Lucas Edwards broke the offside trap to latch onto a through ball and dink it over the stranded Bache to open the scoring for Smethwick (0-1).

Nuneaton looked to equalise as soon as possible, and with time running out before half time they grabbed a crucial equaliser on 43 minutes. At one end Recci’s backpass was short and Bache managed to clear the ball away ahead of the attacker to Trevor Edwards on the right, and James Spruce picked the ball up, fed in a brilliant through ball to Callum Thorpe and he slotted home (1-1).

Half time: Nuneaton Town 1-1 Smethwick Rangers

Justin Marsden made an appearance for the second half, replacing James Harrison, and the first 15 minutes of the half was a midfield battle with no clear chances for either side.

Marsden was the first to test a keeper on 61 minutes as his deflected shot was grabbed comfortably. Simmons went into the book 2 minutes later for a late challenge.

Smethwick should have gone back in front as Simmons got away on the left and had an effort saved by Bache, it fell to Lucas Edwards who could only slice the ball wide with the goal gaping.

After Danico Johnson replaced Gardner, Nuneaton punished them for that miss, as a corner was won on the right, and Carsley whipped it in perfectly onto Cody Mullan's head and it was headed in from a yard out (2-1).

For the remainder of the half it started to get a little bit tetchy, as some questionable refereeing decisions, and some animosity between the two sides followed. Declan Somel replaced Thorpe on 77, and seconds later Recci's shoulder nudge in defence saw him booked harshly. Russell Dodd saw himself booked on 80 for taking exception to the referee. And the referee was front and centre again as he sent off Dominic Perkins for a second bookable offence on 83 following a conversation between the two.

Despite the 10 men, Nuneaton hung on and kept the ball downfield for most of the remaining time to battle their way to the final.

Full time: Nuneaton Town 2-1 Smethwick Rangers

Team: Bache, Edwards, Recci, Perkins, Carsley, Currithers, Thorpe (Somel 77), Mullan, Spruce (Williams 84), Harrison (Marsden 45), Gardner (Johnson 69)

Subs: Somel, Williams, Marsden, Jo.Whitehouse, Johnson

REACTION

Coach Dan Kembery commented after the game:

'We made it difficult for ourselves at times, we weren't as crisp with our passing in the first half, we came in having scored a goal to get back in the game at half time. I thought second half we stepped it up a bit, but I think it was one of those games over 90 minutes of just getting the job done and getting to the final, and we got over the line eventually.'

About reaching the final and potentially playing at a Football League ground (v Cradley Town) and what it means for the fans:

'I think it's brilliant, I think the fans deserve it they've been following us week in, week out, home and away, and we're really glad we could deliver that for the fans. Hopefully along with a positive end to the league season it'll be a nice way to sign off going into the summer break.'

About coming from behind and then holding on with a man down:

'It's never easy when you go a goal down but I think the lads back themselves with the ability we've got, in the squad not just the starting 11, to turn things around in a positive way. Obviously with the 10 men it's frustrating, bit difficult going into the latter stages of the game, but I thought the lads handled themselves fantastically, kept their shape, we'd changed it to manage the game. The lads responded brilliantly and saw it out.'

On the red card for Dominic Perkins:

'It's one of them. You've just got to keep your head haven't you, and sometimes decisions are made and you've got to be more mindful when on a yellow card to just get on with it. I know it's frustrating at times, but you've just got to be smarter at times to keep eleven on the pitch.'

On Saturday's game at home to Birstall United:

'Yeah looking forward to it, should be another challenge, we've just got to keep the momentum going and get positive results and performances, and continue battling on in the league.'