By Liam Price, photo by Jonathan White
For the first time since the August Bank Holiday weekend, the Dabbers are back in league action, and we start with a home game against Congleton on Saturday (3pm kick-off) followed 2 days later by a trip to Atherton Colieries on Monday (not Tuesday, 7.45pm kick-off).
Bear Necessities
It’s a small sample size, but it looks like Congleton have found their mojo again. They made an unexpectedly slow start to the season, perhaps a hangover from their play-off disappointment at the end of last season, failing to win any of their first 5 league games.
But they come into this one on the back of back-to-back wins in the league, against Witton and Darlaston. It’s little surprise that this has coincided with the return of star striker Max McCarthy, who scored in both of those wins. His injury in the play-off final against Hednesford took away their biggest goalscoring threat at the worst possible time and it’s bad news for the rest of the league that he’s back.
There was a period at the end of August and into September where they failed to score in 4 out of 5 games, albeit one of those was against National League North Chorley in the FA Cup. All of this means they are 17th in the NPL West, but have as many as 3 games in hand on other teams in the division. The Dabbers have played the fewest league games of anyone with 5.
With cup draws and the way the fixtures have fallen, the Bears play away on Saturday for the first time since 25th August, having had 5 games in a row at home.
Last Time We Met
We travelled to Congleton in January and came away with a point in a 1-1 draw. That man McCarthy spectacularly put the home side ahead before a Darren Chadwick own goal from a James Melhado cross levelled the scores. Highlights below.
Players to Watch
Former Dabbers goalkeeper Dave Parton is set to make his landmark 200th appearance for the Bears on Saturday.
Theo Stair, brother of Joel and a former Dabber himself, is with Congleton and has scored this season, against Vauxhall in the FA Trophy.
The rest of the Congleton team is becoming pretty familiar now, the settled nature of the squad surely a contributor to their continued success. Names like Peter Williams, Chadwick, George Sankey, Ethan Hartshorn, Kieran Knapper and Dan Needham barely seem to miss a game.
Match Information
You can buy tickets online for this one HERE or on the gate with cash or card.
Dogs are allowed as long as they are kept on a lead.
Please be careful with parking and avoid parking on the road that leads into the housing estate as it causes bad traffic issues.
An Ather-ton Bites the Dust
Atherton are unbeaten in their last 5 league games, interspersed by some cup action. Like the Dabbers, they were knocked out of the FA Trophy away at Silsden, and were well beaten by local rivals Atherton Labernum Rovers in the wonderfully named ‘Flat Cap Derby’ in the FA Cup.
But the league form has been strong. Since losing their first 3 league games they haven’t lost at all in the NPL West, beating Newcastle, Clitheroe, Stafford and Trafford then drawing 1-1 away at Shifnal in midweek. Before facing the Dabbers, they’ll travel to Mossley on Saturday as they seek to keep that unbeaten run going.
Before the weekend they sit 8th in the NPL West on 13 points after 8 games, 3 games more than the Dabbers have played.
Last Time We Met
The trip to the Dreams2Reality Stadium in March was a nightmare for the Dabbers, with a goal conceded seconds after the second half started, scored by Aaron Dwyer, proving the difference in what was probably the lowest point of the season after the struggles in the new year. The Dabbers have lost 3 of the last 4 trips to Atherton. Footage below.
Players to Watch
Chinedu Uche is their top scorer so far, but has been ably supported by some former Dabbers. Luke Nock and Joe Piggott have also both scored this season, Piggott grabbing the equaliser at Shifnal in midweek. He’s also wearing the captain’s armband these days.
Match Information
Prices on the gate in Atherton are £10 for adults, £7 for concessions, £4 for U18s and U11s free.