By Liam Price, photo by Jonathan White
We’ve reached the semi-final stage of the Cheshire Senior Cup, with the Dabbers here for the first time since 2019. The opponents are Crewe Alex, who will make the short trip up the A534.
Crewe’s Control
There’s little point dissecting the recent league form of the Alex as very few, if any, players involved in it are likely to be playing on Tuesday. However, the mood at the club will be high after only 1 defeat so far in 2026 and being just 2 points off a play-off spot.
So far in the Cheshire Cup, the young Crewe sides have beaten Barnton 2-0, Ashville 4-0 and Macclesfield 4-1 to get to this point. As a reminder, Nantwich have beaten Cammell Laird 4-0, Northwich Victoria 1-0 and Runcorn Linnets 2-0 thus far.
Looking at the seasons so far for the youth sides, the Alex U21s are bottom of the Premier League Professional Development League but that is a division stacked with the academies of several Premier League and Championship clubs.
The U18s are faring better, lying 3rd in the U18s PDL and only a point off the top. It is from those teams that the Alex squad on Tuesday is most likely going to be made up of.
In terms of players to look out for, there is the prospect of young forward Jordan Hodkin playing for Crewe against the Dabbers, fresh off his first start for Nantwich just 3 days earlier. It’ll surely be a weird feeling but he’ll be among the biggest goal threats for the Alex on Tuesday should he play.
Elsewhere in the Cheshire Cup, the other semi-final line up is yet to be decided despite this one being played this week. That is due to a 2nd round tie between Stockport Georgians and Runcorn Town that has been postponed more than once, and is due to be played again on Tuesday 24th February.
The winners of that will play Stockport Town in the quarter final, then the winners of that game will face Vauxhall Motors in the second semi final after they defeated Sandbach United 4-2 last week. So there’s probably going to be a long wait for the final for whoever wins on Tuesday.
Last Time We Met
The 2 sides last played each other in the quarter-finals of this competition back in 2023, where goals from Connor Evans, who would later that season come on loan to the Dabbers, and Lachlan Brook saw the Alex through as 2-0 winners.
Byron Harrison and Perry Bircumshaw are the only 2 players from the Dabbers squad that night who are still at the club, while Jon Moran also started. For Crewe, Matus Holicek, who at the weekend reached 100 first team appearances for the Alex, was in their side. Highlights below.
Match Information
Tickets are £9 for adults, £6 for concessions, and £3 for U16s. They 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. This is especially important at the moment as some new traffic lights are being installed in the Kingsbourne estate, with 4-way temporary lights at the junction into the stadium.
If the main car park is filling up, then you can use the leisure centre car park up the road which is free to park on after 3pm 7 days a week.
There will be live music in the Green Rock Group Fan Zone from local musician Steve Robinson before the game, where season ticket holders and NTISA members can get 10% off drinks when they show their cards at the bar!
Dogs are allowed as long as they are kept on a lead.