By Liam Price, photo by Jonathan White
It’s another tough home game for the Dabbers as we face Shifnal Town at home on Saturday at the slightly delayed time of 3.03pm. More on that later…
Not to be Shif-ed at
Shifnal are doing a great job since being promoted from the Midland Premier League via the play-offs. Before the weekend they sit up in 3rd and just 4 points off the top.
They are unbeaten in 9 games in the NPL West, last losing away at Bury in September. It’s also 5 wins from 6, those coming against Stalybridge, Runcorn, Mossley, Vauxhall and Witton.
In their last 3 games, they’ve conceded 2 goals in all of them but not lost any of them. In their last 2 they beat Vauxhall 5-2 and Witton 3-2. In fact, they have scored at least twice in their last 5 games in a row. Nantwich have only scored twice in 1 of the last 7 games.
Away from home they have 3 wins and 3 draws from their 8 games. It all adds up to another tough home test for the Dabbers. In fact, if the table stays as it is currently then by the time the Dabbers play Avro a week on Saturday we’ll have played all of the current top 5 in a run of 6 games.
Last Time We Met
It’s not that long since we played Shifnal previously. In September 2023, after an FA Cup draw at home, we travelled to Shifnal for a replay. With the game looking destined for extra time, Byron Harrison popped up with a late winner to send the Dabbers through. Highlights below.
Players to Watch
Beware the double-barrel. Shaquille Leachman-Whittingham has 7 league goals and Matthew Barnes-Homer has 5 for Shifnal this season.
At least one former Dabber was in their last line-up. Goalkeeper Andy Wycherley made 11 appearances for Nantwich in the 2021/22 season.
Match Information
After all the all-ticket talk from the Bury game, Saturday will be a return to normal with tickets available online HERE or on the gate.
As mentioned, this and all games in the top 4 tiers of non-league football will be kicking off 3 minutes later as a way of supporting the National League’s 3UP Day of Action campaign, centred around allowing 3 clubs to be promoted from the National League to League 2 rather than the current 2. You can read more about the campaign HERE.
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.