By Liam Price
The Dabbers are back at the Swansway for the first time in October as we host the rearranged fixture against Runcorn Linnets on Tuesday night (7.45pm kick-off).
Back of Lin-net
Runcorn come into this one on the back of 1 win in their last 7 games in all competitions, and 3 without a win. The nadir of their season so far probably came at the weekend when they were beaten 3-0 at Newcastle Town.
But the ever-changing calendar and cup draws mean that including this upcoming Nantwich game they will have played 7 out of 9 games away from home. 4 out of 5 after Nantwich are back at the Apec Taxis Stadium for Runcorn where they’ll be looking to get themselves back on track; a win at the Swansway would be the perfect platform to go into that.
While social media should never be seen as a direct reflection of overall fan sentiment, there has been disquiet about both the current form and a couple of key players that have left. There’s no doubt they’ll have been wanting to kick on again after a great campaign last time where they finished 4th on 80 points before losing to Stalybridge in the play-off semi finals.
At the moment they sit 14th in the NPL West and a couple of places behind Nantwich. For what it’s worth, the other 2 losing play-off sides from last season are currently even lower in the league in what is as unpredictable a season as ever.
Last Time We Met
The 3 meetings in all competitions against Runcorn last season ended with 1 Nantwich win, 1 Runcorn win and 1 draw. That draw was in the league game at Runcorn in January, where Joe Collins scored what was voted the Dabbers Goal of the Season for 2025/26 in a 1-1 result.
Players to Watch
A great scorer previously for Vauxhall, Nick Rushton is repeating the trick for Runcorn, reaching 6 goals in 13 games up to now. His last goal was a late winner away at Mossley a couple of weeks ago.
Lewis Buckley and Matthew Whittingham are other recent scorers, while other familiar names remain from last season’s successful season like Matty Rain, Jacques Welsh and Sean Miller.
Match Information
There will be a minute’s applause before kick-off in memory of Courtney Meppen-Walters, who passed away last week aged 32. A much loved member of the Dabbers family in the brief time he was with us, we’d ask that you’re in your seats/places a little earlier than normal as we pay tribute.
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.