By Liam Price
This year’s festive fixture has provided the Dabbers with the short trip to Witton Albion on Boxing Day (3pm kick-off).
Walking in a Witton Wonderland
The Albion come into this game on the back of much needed consecutive wins. Before 14th December, they had gone 7 games without a win, losing 6 of those. But a pair of 2-1 wins over Wythenshawe Town and City of Liverpool have lifted their spirits and their league position just in time for this local derby. They are now 17th and 2 points and places clear of the relegation zone, with a game or two in hand on those below them.
At home they have won 5 and lost 4 of their 10 league games, reasonable form that manager Ben Harrison will be looking to build on. Harrison played 170 times for Nantwich across 3 spells and played alongside Dabbers boss Jon Moran in the 2015/16 FA Trophy semi-final run.
Nantwich have won their last 4 visits to Wincham Park (or the U Lock It Stadium) going back to to the 2019/20 season. However, the Dabbers have not won any Boxing Day match since 2019 against Stafford. One of those records will have to go on Thursday.
Last Time We Met
The home league meeting between the 2 finished 1-0 to the Dabbers in January, a lively game that was eventually settled by a Matt Lowton own goal. Highlights below.
Players to Watch
Despite leaving for Stalybridge at the start of September, Joe Duckworth is still Witton’s top scorer with a superb 8 goals in 7 games. Reece Daly is next on 7, but he was recalled from his loan by Chester at the end of October. And just this month their next top scorer Elliot Rokka left to join Stalybridge as well. Such is the life of a non-league club at this level.
Replacing those goals is no easy task, and when you look at recent games, the goals have been spread around very evenly. Adam Watson, James Hooper, Mamadou Djabi and James Baillie have all contributed in those back-to-back wins. And just in time for Christmas they announced the signing of forward Nick Hepple from Mossley, having previously scored 4 goals for Wythenshawe Town this campaign.
As well as Ben Harrison, who has been on the pitch himself in recent weeks, other former Dabbers in Witton’s ranks include James Lawrie and Mike Koral.
Match Information
Tickets for this one on the gate are priced at £12 for adults, £7 for concessions, £5 for 18-21s, £3 for U18s and free for U5s.
The NTISA coach is SOLD OUT and departs from the Swansway Stadium at 1pm.
For anyone driving, the postcode is CW9 6DA and it’s about a 35-40 minute drive via the A530.