Match Report | Nelson (H)
Goals from McKenzie Dicicco and debutant Cameron Thomson gave Jamie Tunstall a debut win as Manager of Northallerton Town as they defeated Nelson FC in a 2-1 win.
Nelson, who ply their trade in the North West Counties Football League (NWCFL) Division One North at Step 6 of English football were the visitors today. Nelson arrived at the Calverts Stadium on the back of four consecutive defeats, failing to score in the last three.
FIRST HALF
The tempo of the game was set early as a heavy, late challenge on Leon Scott from Nelson’s Jacob Holgate earned him a booking within the opening minute of the game. However, it wouldn’t take Town long to get hold of the game.
The lads got off to a perfect start when McKenzie Dicicco latched onto a through ball from captain Dale Hopson to take an early 1-0 lead on his return from a short spell with Newton Aycliffe. The two would soon link up again as Dicicco rounded the keeper but could only find the side netting from an acute angle.
The early dominance continued as Max McGuckin saw his effort fire over the bar. Then Jack Connor had two chances of his own, a long-range effort saved by the Nelson keeper after a defensive mix-up and was then blocked a few minutes later as the away keeper rushed out and used his head to block Connor’s goalbound effort.
The visitors started to get into the game after that with a few efforts of their own but nothing to trouble Ben Fairless in goal and we went into half-time 1-0 up
HT - Northallerton Town 1 - 0 Nelson
SECOND HALF
Town again started well in the second period, and perhaps should have put themselves further ahead within the first 10 minutes. Jack Connor broke free and made his way goal-bound and was perhaps caught in two minds between shooting or squaring for Dicicco - he chose the latter but his pass was overhit.
Jack Connor had the first real chance of the half as he headed an Adam Cocks cross just wide. A raft of substitutions changed the flow of the game and a collection of bookings for Town came and went as the football died in quality.
Town grabbed a deserved second to all but put the tie to bed when Cameron Thomson bagged on his debut. Dicicco went from scorer to provider as he broke through down the right and squared the ball for Thomson who was composed in his finish taking a touch before tucking it away for a 2-0 lead.
The visitors did manage to pull one back in the 4th minute of added time through Darren Thornton as a corner was fizzed across the area but Town saw out the remaining time to secure a well-deserved victory.
Town will now enter the First Road of the Isuzu FA Vase for the first time in 11 years.
FT - Northallerton Town 2 - 1 Nelson FC
Northallerton
Fairless, McGuckin, Cocks, Scott (Roberts 62’), Flounders, Luck, Chidanyika (Thomson 83’), Davis (Hogan 69’), Connor, Hopson, Dicicco
Subs not used: Banks
Goals: Dicicco (9’), Thomson (85’)
Nelson
Gidley, Hamilton, Anderson, Rowlands-Whiteoak, Langford, Thornton, Nolan (Entwistle 66’), Holgate, Holt, Amos, Taylor (Hodgson 80’)
Subs not used: Lomo-Danyame, Bird
Goals: Thornton (90+4’)