Last time we met Nantwich
By Ray Simpson
The last time we played Nantwich was just a few weeks ago, when we produced one of our best performa...
Nantwich had the first real chance of the game when the speedy Matty Kosylo broke through, but Peter Jameson saved with his legs, and then Troy Bourne’s effort was deflected wide for a fruitless corner.
Nantwich, who were already missing a couple of players because of injury, were forced into a substitution midway through the first half when Josh Gordon went off and was replaced by Sam Cooke.
Quakers slowly got on top, and took the lead when a strike by Stephen Thompson was blocked, but poacher Nathan Cartman was in the right place to fire his 16th league goal of the season.
It was nearly 2-0 soon after, when skipper Kevin Burgess, up supporting his attack, tried an overhead kick that Smith punched away.
Nantwich threatened through Elliot Osborne, but he fired straight at Peter Jameson, but Quakers nearly grabbed a second at the other end when Smith and Biurne got in a tangle, and the keeper just managed to grab the ball before Stephen Thompson could take advantage.
Cartman sent the travelling Darlo fans wild again just before half time. Smith had saved a previous effort, but the keeper had no chance when Tom Portas shot towards goal, but Cartman quickly controlled the ball, turned, and beat the keeper.
Nantwich tried to hit back in the second half, but Jameson saved from Sam Cooke.
However, Quakers took a stranglehold on the game when Smith brought down Portas when he was bursting through, and Terry Galbraith scored his eighth goal of the season from the spot.
It was 4-0 just after the hour, when Cartman got to the bye line and pulled the ball back perfectly for Galbraith to drive home.
It got even better for Quakers when Portas dispossessed a defender, fired at goal, and even though the keeper blocked his shot, sub Graeme Armstrong was there to turn in the loose ball.
Armstrong then missed an easy chance from ten yards to make it a record away win for Quakers – but nobody was grumbling after a fantastic away performance to put Quakers just one point behind leaders Blyth with their 13th away league win of the season.
Darlington
Jameson, Hunter, Galbraith, Turnbull, Burgess, Brown, Portas, Nowakowski, Gaskell (sub Armstrong 59), Cartman (sub Mitchell 80), Thompson (sub Hardy 65).
Subs: Provett, Weldon
Booking: Hunter
Nantwich
Smith, Bourne, White, Moran, Harrison, Gordon (sub Cooke 23), Osborne, Hall (C), Cosgrove, Bell, Kosylo.
Subs: Burzynski, Steel, Bennion and Griggs.
and here are the highlights
