THREE goals in a devastating eight minute second-half spell saw Eastwood Town come from behind to secure the points at Coronation Park on Saturday.

Richard Dunning's first for the club, a debut strike from Andy Todd and another for top scorer Ian Holmes did the damage as the Badgers maintained their unbeaten home run.

With Todd - on a three-month loan deal - back at Eastwood, Paul Cox and John Ramshaw went for a 4-4-2 formation with Lindon Meikle partnering Holmes in preference to Peter Knox and Marc Smith.

Real quality was added to the starting line-up with Ross Gardner reporting fit.

For fully 15 minutes, this was a sterile, untidy midfield maul with a capricious and often very strong wind making ball control very difficult.

As the visitors settled, the industrious Phil Parkinson combined with Michael Lennon in a series of left-flank forays and, at least twice, Shane Redmond was quickly off his line to deal with dangerous crosses.

Alastair Asher's bad error let Lennon clear on the left but Redmond reacted brilliantly to parry the cross-shot and Simon Sturdy was on hand to hack clear from the on-rushing Dave Walker.

Eastwood finally got into an attacking position when Gardner threaded a pass through to Holmes, who probably should have shot first time but was crowded out as he doubled back on to his left foot.

The striker's next advance was more positive and his low, hard-driven cross was scrambled behind for a corner, which led to a sustained goalmouth jostling eventually cleared by the experienced Dave Tickle.

His wind-driven punt upfield was seized on by Adam Beasley on the visitors' right and the midfielder's weighted cross seemed pinpointed at Lennon until Asher swept the ball cleanly off the striker's toes.

The referee must have inhaled preparatory to his half-time whistle blast when another blast - that of a wild windy disposition, caught out Tickle and Paul Robinson.

The ball shuttled off both central defenders and fell invitingly for Alan Nagington who shot powerfully across and behind Redmond.

Andy Todd, whose first contribution had been typically energetic, soon had the Nantwich defenders toiling in his wake and it was a strong pacy run which set up a quick equaliser from Dunning after Holmes had intelligently created space.

That goal came on 51 minutes and just two minutes later Todd opened his Eastwood account (mark two!) with a determined run in from the left and a cracking shot past Lee Jones.

Meikle had a very clear chance when fed in on goal by Gardner but, perhaps put off by the inaccuracy of previous solo efforts, he tried to turn provider but over-hit his cross.

In 59 minutes, Holmes banished memories of his recent 'famine' with a spectacular third Eastwood goal.

Coming in from the left, the ex-Mansfield Town striker just kept going across goal before suddenly braking and leaving Jones absolutely helpless with a meticulously measured shot.

I use the word 'famine' very loosely considering Ian's goals tally is now eight from ten in league fixtures.

Firmly on top, Eastwood soon replaced the immensely effective Gardner with Smith and the newcomer was quickly in action, flicking Holmes intot space from Dunning's cross. This time Jones beat down and then retrieved a fierce chest-high shot.

As hard as they tried, and there were flashes of real midfield ability from Rob Hawthorne, Beasley and Parkinson, the visitors could not make headway downhill and Lennon, after a promising start, looked a pale, insipid copy of the potent strike force he once was.

Just once Nantwich threatened Redmond's charge but Russell Cooke - occupying yet another role in defence - cleverly read Beasley's run on to Nagington's cross-field pass and cut out the danger.

Having predicted a 4-1 scoreline (I don't have Tony Minnis' luck - nor I admit his willingness to back my judgement!) I should have liked any one out of Smith, Todd, Meikle or Holmes to convert late chances but it was not to be.

Either Nantwich flattered to deceive with an impressive first-half showing or, more likely, Eastwood made better use of the weather conditions.

Either way it was, considering those conditions, a very enjoyable game.
I have absolutely no quarrel with the sponsor's choice for man-of-the-match as Ross Gardner who I thought was a real class act.

Unfortunately my self-imposed rules demand my Best Badger plays all 90 minutes - so step forward - Richard Dunning!

Eastwood Town
1 - Shane Redmond
2 - Alistair Asher
3 - Russell Cooke
4 - Paul Robinson
5 - Simon Sturdy (Mark Hume 83)
6 - Richard Dunning
7 - Anton Foster
8 - Andy Todd
9 - Ian Holmes
10 - Lindon Meikle
11 - Ross Gardner (Marc Smith 72)
Subs not used: Peter Knox, Craig Swinscoe, Chris Shaw
Attendance: 345
Referee: P Thompson (Stone)
Best Badger - Richard Dunning