By Liam Price
The Dabbers travel to Greater Manchester this weekend, playing at Trafford FC on Saturday afternoon (3pm kick-off).
Traff-er Than the Rest
It’s a glass half full/half empty situation regarding Trafford’s recent form. They have lost only 1 of their last 6 games, the issue is they have only won 1 of those games as well. If you take it further back and include the Manchester Premier Cup, it’s only 1 win in 10. But that win was against Chasetown, and they have had recent draws against Runcorn and Congleton at home and Bootle away.
They played on Wednesday night and got another draw, 0-0 away at Avro, to leave them 12th in the NPL West. That was their first clean sheet in 11 games. This match had been rearranged after being abandoned on Boxing Day due to fog, but it was also where Trafford director and secretary Graham ‘Foxxy’ Foxall sadly suffered a stroke at the game. The last update on his health, posted by Trafford on Thursday, was a short video of the man himself sounding great and saying he was ‘feeling great’ too. A popular figure across the North West non-league scene, we wish Foxxy the best in his ongoing recovery.
Last Time We Met
Trafford were 3rd in the league when the Dabbers played them at the Swansway in October, but that was quickly forgotten as Nantwich just clicked into gear and ended up winning 6-0, with a hat-trick for Kai Evans. It was the biggest Dabbers win for 9 years in the league. Highlights below.
Players to Watch
Trafford have been favoured opponents for both Kai Evans and Byron Harrison in the past. Evans has 5 goals in 3 games against Trafford, and Harrison has 4 in 3.
Rio Clegg is clear as Trafford’s top scorer with 9 goals. However, he hasn’t played in their last 2 games since scoring against Bootle on 4th January. This is presumably down to injury but there’s no information out there confirming that, or indeed if he’ll be back for Saturday’s game.
Behind him is Damola Sotona on 4. Then, among a group on 3 goals is Matty Lusakueno, who tormented the Dabbers on our last visit to Shawe View.
They have made 2 recent signings in Kevin Spinelli from Witton and Toba Obitayo from Atherton who could both be involved.
Match Information
Tickets are available on the gate with cash/card at £10 for adults, £6 for concessions and £2 for under 16s.
Shawe View is very close to Carrington, where Manchester United and Sale Sharks train. It’s just over an hour by car, via the A530, A556, M56 and M60. Public transport is possible but far from ideal; despite it being Manchester, to access the closest stations to the ground you have to go from Crewe via Liverpool South Parkway.
Manchester City play Chelsea at the Etihad in the evening kick off on Saturday so the traffic could be busier heading home than coming in. Nantwich will also be extremely busy as it’s the annual Battle of Nantwich re-enactment (fingers crossed for the Royalists this year).