Nantwich Town manager Paul Carden couldn’t fault his sides effort and work rate after they had to settle for a draw against Marske United on Thursday night.
The teams were due to meet on Saturday 15th April but the game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Nantwich Town had to avoid defeat in order to keep their season alive going in Saturday’s home fixture against Radcliffe so a quick start was just what they needed. After just eight minutes the Dabbers went ahead through the unlikely source of left wing back, Perry Bircumshaw
Bryon Harrison won a flick on from a goal kick to set Bircumshaw free inbehind, the Dabbers left wing back then saw his initial effort strike the post before he hammered home to give the Dabbers an early lead.
After scoring a hat trick on Tuesday night, The Dabbers knew they had to keep Marske’s forward Adam Boyes quiet, he had his first involvement in the game on the 15 minute mark as he got inbehind but his effort bobbled into Patrick Wharton’s arms.
Ten minutes later, Perry Bircumshaw came close to adding his second of the game when Connor Evans effort rebounded to him but his effort was excellently blocked on the line by the Marske defender.
Four minutes later, there was another great change for Nantwich as Jon Moran’s looping cross was met by Byron Harrison but his header was once again blocked on the line.
After a hectic first half an hour, the first half then died down with Marske looking to get back into the game, but the Dabbers backline comfortably dealing with any threat that came their way.
At the break, The Dabbers would have been pleased to be in the lead but they knew they had a lot of work to do in their second half to hold onto it.
Just seven minutes into the half, the home side levelled the scores. A deep free kick was won by Boyes and who flicked it into the path of Andrew May who calmly tucked home to get his side back on level terms.
Four minutes later, Dabbers debutant keepe pulled off a superb save to keep the scores level after he saves Boyes close range effort with his legs
In the 68th minute, Sean Cooke’s cross was cleared as far as Byron Harrison who turned and took aim towards goal, but his effort crashed off the upright and went out for a goal kick
With ten minutes to go, The Dabbers took the lead. Aidy Roxburgh’s long throw in was well kept in by Connor Evans, he managed to find Sean Cooke who waited for the ball to drop and volleyed past Jaan Yaqub in the Marske goal. It was an excellent finish from Cooke who has been in excellent form since rejoining the club a few weeks ago.
The Dabbers couldn’t hold on to their lead for long, just three minutes later Marske levelled the game again, and it was a carbon copy of their first goal. A deep freekick caused chaos in the Nantwich Town box and Andrew May was there again to slot home from close range.
“Really disappointed with the goals we concede. At half time we spoke at half time about not giving cheap free-kicks and we’ve done just that. And it’s really poor because I can’t fault the effort and the work rate” said Carden
The game ended 2-2, this result was enough to see Marske United avoid relegation. But for The Dabbers it meant that they have to win against playoff hopefuls Radcliffe on Saturday and hope that already relegated Stalybridge Celtic beat Atherton Collieries and then Nantwich will stay up on goal difference.
When talking about Saturdays game, Carden said “Stranger things have happened, there’s three points to play for on Saturday. Whilst we’ve got a chance, we’ll be going for it. Three points is there to play for and we’ll be definitely going for it”
Tickets for Saturday’s massive fixture against Radcliffe can be purchased here – https://bit.ly/3N3NTkG