By Liam Price, photo by Jonathan White
The Dabbers travel to Shifnal on Wednesday (7.45pm kick-off) for this rearranged league game.
A Good Early Shift
Shifnal started the season with 4 straight wins in all competitions before suffering the same fate as Nantwich in being knocked out of the FA Cup by Sporting Khalsa.
They followed that game up by recording the shock result of the NPL West so far this season when they went to Stafford and won 4-0. They have won all their games in the FA Trophy to reach the Third Qualifying Round where they’ll travel to Alfreton Town of the NPL Premier this weekend.
But in recent games the league form has taken a little bit of a dip. They’ve actually lost 3 league games on the bounce, to Clitheroe then 4-1 to Chasetown and 3-0 to Wythenshawe at the weekend. Perhaps the cup run has taken a bit of focus off the league, they’d be far from the first team at this level for who that has been the case in the past, Nantwich included.
After Nantwich they have 4 consecutive away games so will certainly be looking to get back on track at home. But even with those losses they are still in the play-off places in 7th in the NPL West table.
Last Time We Met
It was only March when the Dabbers last played at Shifnal, also away, and Nantwich won 2-0 thanks to goals from Byron Harrison and Perry Bircumshaw.
Players to Watch
Andre Landell has 5 goals in 7 league games but will be suspended for this match after he was sent off late on in the defeat to Chasetown last Wednesday.
The headline signing for Shifnal in the summer was Chay Tilt, who was up there with Alex Panter and Kyle Hawley in the top scorers chart in the NPL West last season for Khalsa. His start at Shifnal has been steady, with 3 goals in all competitions. He scored a great goal against the Dabbers for Khalsa last season.
In midfield may well by Oli Finney, who played 8 times for Nantwich last season.
Match Information
Tickets are £10 for adults, £7 for concessions and £3 for U16s.