By Liam Price, photo by Jonathan White
The Dabbers host Congleton on Tuesday night (7.45pm kick-off) in what even at this early stage of the season looks like a significant game for both sides.
Grin and Bears It
After finishing a point and a place above the relegation zone at the end of last season, Congleton have had a bit of a slow start again this time around.
Like the Dabbers, they are yet to win a league game. However, if you spread it out to all competitions they have won 2 games to Nantwich’s 1, having had a couple of wins in the FA Trophy before being knocked out by Bridlington Town at the weekend.
There are similarities in their league results to the Dabbers; like us they have drawn with Vauxhall and lost at home to Prescot. Other recent league results have included a goalless draw with Wythenshawe and a 2-1 defeat to Kidsgrove.
They have only scored 2 goals in their 5 games in the league, which is the lowest of anyone. However, they did put 4 past Atherton in the FA Trophy so do have goals in the side.
The game does take on greater importance than normal simply because of the positions of the two teams. Only Lichfield, who sadly already look like they’ll be going down, are below the Dabbers and Congleton in the NPL West table.
Last Time We Met
Nantwich won both meetings with Congleton 2-0 last season, the most recent being the win at the Cleric Stadium in January when Marc Feighery was in temporary charge. Byron Harrison’s 50th goal for the club and a late Callum Saunders tap-in after a great run by Joel Connolly made the difference.
Players to Watch
Another thing the Dabbers and Congleton have in common is losing a talismanic goalscorer over the summer. Max McCarthy got a well earned move to Radcliffe after years of great goalscoring for the Bears.
As a replacement, they made the canny signing of Rob Stevenson. Stevenson’s goals were a big part of Leek’s title win at Step 4 a couple of years ago. He then got a move to Hednesford but after a bad knock to the head in a game he was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome which has meant he’s barely played any football for the past couple of seasons, so it’s great to see him back and he has netted for his new side this season.
Kieran Knapper has 2 goals to his name so far in a team full of familiar names from Dave Parton in goal to Peter Williams and captain Darren Chadwick.
Match Information
Tickets are available online HERE or with card or cash on the gate.
Please be careful with parking and avoid parking on the road that leads into the housing estate next to the stadium as it causes bad traffic issues. The leisure centre car park just up the road is free after 3pm so you can park there with no issue if the club car parks are filling up.
Dogs are allowed as long as they are kept on a lead.