By Liam Price, photo by Jonathan White
Good Friday sees what on paper should be the toughest test yet of the Dabbers’ excellent recent form, as we travel to Runcorn Linnets (3pm kick-off) for the first time since 2017.
Baby, we were Corn to Run
Runcorn dropped a place to 3rd after Prescot won their game in hand in midweek but they have been there or thereabouts in the play-offs for the majority of the season. The Yellows’ form has been a little inconsistent over the last few games; 1 win in the last 4 in the league and damaging defeats to fellow promotion hopefuls Leek and Bootle. But a home win over Avro and draw away at Clitheroe last time out has steadied the ship as they look to secure another run at the play-offs. With Leek almost certainly going up as champions, and Clitheroe currently outside the top 5, they could end up being the only team in the play-offs that were also there last season; that experience could be crucial.
The home record for Runcorn Linnets is what has fuelled their season again this year. It doesn’t always happen like this but currently, the 3 teams with the best home records are 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the table (for what it’s worth, the Dabbers now have the 4th best home record in the league). 10 wins and 2 draws out of 16 home league games is impressive, as is just 1 defeat in the last 7 home games they’ve played in the league. With the Dabbers winning their last 2 away games by an aggregate score of 7-1, it all makes for an exciting game.
Last Time We Met
All the action at the Swansway in October happened in a breathless last 20 minutes. Former Dabber Will Saxon gave Runcorn the lead, before quickfire goals from Byron Harrison and Ahmed Ali turned the game on its head, with Eric Yahaya deciding the game late on for a 3-1 Nantwich win. Highlights below.
There was also a much more recent meeting between the women’s sides, where Runcorn Linnets defeated the Dabbers Women in the Cheshire FA Women’s Cup semi final just last weekend on the same pitch where we’ll meet on Friday.
Players to Watch
Top scorer for Runcorn is Oliver Molloy. With 16 goals in all competitions (for comparison, the same number as Kai Evans), he also scored their goal in the draw with Clitheroe last weekend. Saxon’s goal at the Swansway is 1 of 9 he’s got this season. Other former Dabbers at the Yellows include Ryan Brooke, who scored in their last home game and has 8 this campaign.
Match Information
Tickets are available on the gate priced at £10 for adults, £7 for concessions and £2 for under 18s. If you haven’t been before, the postcode for The APEC Taxis Stadium is WA7 6JG and it is about a 45 minute drive from Nantwich via a variety of routes. It is possible to get there via public transport in less than an hour and a half, but bear in mind reduced services on bank holiday Good Friday.
As in the women’s game, Runcorn will be wearing their away kit due to their familiar yellow and green hoops clashing with both of Nantwich’s kits (Nantwich will be in yellow).