By Jonathan White, photo by Peter Robinson
Nantwich Town FC Women continued their flying start to the season with a battling 0-0 draw away at Chester FC Women under the lights at the Deva Stadium on Wednesday 27th August 2025, in the North West Women’s Regional League Division One South.
The Dabbers went into the game with three wins from their opening three matches, and they showed plenty of spirit to keep the momentum going by earning a hard-fought point on the road against one of the league’s favourites.
There was one setback for Nantwich on the night, as midfielder Poppy Emery was forced off with an injury and later taken to hospital. An x-ray confirmed a fractured tibia which will keep her sidelined for some time. The Club has thanked Chester FC Women for their outstanding support on the evening, with their physio working alongside Nantwich physio Gabbi and the matchday stewards helping Poppy from the pitch.
On the pitch, it was another strong team display, with the Dabbers’ defensive resilience standing out. Nantwich Town’s GOAT Player of the Match went to the ever-reliable Sam Cawley (sponsored by Safeguarding Sorted), who put in a superb defensive performance and picked up a £50 voucher from the town’s new sports bar and restaurant on High Street.
Dabbers Starting XI: 1. C. Swindell, 2. A. Mayer, 3. B. Harding, 4. S. Cawley, 5. H. Knight, 6. L. Pearce, 7. J. Buckley-Ratcliff, 8. K. Greenwood, 9. A. Fallon, 10. P. Smith (captain), 11. L. Bulkeley. Subs: A. Poulton, P. Emery, N. Walker, A. Hatton.
First Team Manager Dan Mellor praised his players afterwards, saying:
“To come away from home against the league favourites with eight players unavailable through injury and still come away unbeaten is a huge credit to the squad.
“The way we defended as a unit was magnificent, the players showed real discipline, organisation and togetherness.
“On another night we might have come away with the win with the chances we created, but the most important thing is the resilience and belief we showed. This performance gives us a lot of confidence moving forward, and it underlines the character that’s building within this group.”
The result means Nantwich Town FC Women stay top of the table in Tier 6 of the women’s football pyramid – sending out a clear message that they are ready to compete with established names including Altrincham, Chester, Liverpool Feds, Macclesfield, Manchester Laces, Runcorn Linnets, Warrington Town and Wirral Phoenix.
Fans can follow all the latest Dabbers news, match action and behind-the-scenes updates on the team’s official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NTFCLadies
For full fixture details, visit: https://www.nantwichtownfc.co.uk/all-women-fixtures/