UniBond League Premier Division

Nantwich Town 0, Cammell Laird 1

NANTWICH Town were left to rue some wayward finishing, the heroics of Cammell Laird keeper Khalid Al'Sumurie and two unsuccessful penalty appeals after they were narrowly beaten by the Merseyside outfit.

With only four UniBond League Premier Division games going ahead due to frozen pitches, Nantwich had the opportunity to move into sixth place.

But they were stunned in the 32nd minute when Lairds' midfielder Richie Foulkes curled home a free-kick from just outside Nantwich's area.

The Dabbers had threaten Lairds' goal as early as the third minute when Ashley Carter back-heeled to Michael Lennon inside the six-yard box, but the Nantwich striker lost his footing as he turned, allowing the visitors to clear. Dave Walker was then unlucky to see his close-range header fall inches wide of the far post following a Danny Griggs cross on 15 minutes.

Nantwich had two penalty appeals waved away in quick succession as Griggs and Lennon both went to ground under challenges in the visitors' box.

Lennon's rotten luck continued when his shot cannoned off the legs of keeper Al'Sumurie, while Gyorgy Kiss blazed a shot over the bar.

Nantwich were made to pay for their host of missed chances on 32 minutes when Foulkes's curling free-kick found the bottom corner with Dabbers keeper Lee Jones rooted to his line.

Gibson threatened for Nantwich shortly after, but his shot struck Al'Sumurie before rebounding to safety to leave the Dabbers trailing at the break.

Nantwich continued their dominance during the second half as chances fell to both Carter and Kiss. A great opportunity to square the match was wasted by Gibson when the busy midfielder collected a pass from Griggs before firing across the body of Al'Sumurie with an angled drive that went wide of the far post.

Just past the hour Dave Whittaker replaced Mark Beeston as Nantwich changed from 4-4-2 to 3-4-3 in an effort to get back on terms.

However, their frustration continued as they saw shot after shot either held by Al'Sumurie or blocked by the visitors' defence.

Meanwhile, Nantwich keeper Jones did well to hold onto a dangerous strike from midfielder Foulkes in the 65th minute.

Former Tranmere Rovers striker Alex Hay then went close for the visitors a minute later, before Jones held a close-range effort from midfielder Eddie Jebb.

Play was halted for 10 minutes due to floodlight failure in the 78th minute, but Nantwich continued to push for an equaliser when power was eventually restored.

Walker had a couple of close-range shots saved by Al'Sumurie before substitute Rodney Jack's forward ball was blocked inside the six-yard box by the busy Cammell Laird keeper.

Nantwich are on the road again this weekend with a long trip to Boston United tomorrow.

On loan Crewe Alexandra defender Ashley Westwood returns to the squad after completing a one-match suspension.

Nantwich: Jones, Beeston (Whittaker, 61), Kiss, Tinson, Smith. Parkinson, Carter, Gibson, Walker, Lennon (Southern, 88), Griggs (Jack, 82). Not used: Jarrett. Francis.

Cammell Laird: Al'Sumurie, Sheehan (Courtenay, 89), Lynch, Atherton, Rendell, Clampitt, Jebb, Foulkes, Andrews, Ha, Gardner. Not used: Barrow, Brown, Pringle, Ward.

Attendance: 932.