By Liam Price and Jonathan White
It’s a big weekend at home for the Dabbers so with that in mind we are looking ahead to both the men’s and women’s fixtures, with the men in action on Saturday against Trafford (3pm kick-off) and the women in FA Cup action against Solihull Moors on Sunday (2pm kick-off).
It’s a Traff!
It’s unquestionably been a great start to the season for Trafford. They won 8 of their first 10 games in all competitions and despite a slip recently are solidly in 3rd in the NPL West with games in hand on the two teams above them.
The slip has come in the form of 3 defeats in their last 4 games. In the league they have come against Clitheroe and a 3-0 loss at home to Mossley in midweek that may well have left them with the same feeling that Nantwich have of wanting to put a bad night right in their next game. The other defeat was in the FA Trophy to Ashton United of the league above.
But their most recent win was at the same location that went wrong for Nantwich on Tuesday as they won 2-1 at Chasetown at the end of September. In fact, they have won 4 of their 5 away games in the league so far.
Last Time We Met
The Dabbers’ biggest league win of last season was in this fixture. In February, Nantwich were 3-0 up after 15 minutes and went on to win 4-0, with two goals each for Kai Evans and Byron Harrison. Highlights below.
Players to Watch
6 players have scored multiple goals for Trafford this season, but top of the list is Rio Clegg on 4. Damola Sotona has been in the goals recently as well. 5 players have appeared in all of their games so far: Brad Byrne, Jordan Fagbola, Jack Higginbottom, Isaac Noble and Jerome Wright.
Match Information
Tickets as always are available online HERE or on the gate with cash or card. Dogs are allowed as long as they are on a lead.
Live radio commentary, if it is on, will be available HERE from about 5/10 minutes before kick-off. This also applies for the women’s game on Sunday. Speaking of which…
Cup Fever
Sunday’s Third Round Qualifying tie marks the furthest the Dabbers have ever progressed in the Women’s FA Cup, and have been rewarded with a tie with Solihull who are three tiers above Nantwich in the women’s pyramid, in a rematch of the men’s sides who met in the FA Trophy last season.
The Dabbers secured their spot with a 3-2 victory over Mossley Hill Ladies FC in a thrilling Adobe Women’s FA Cup Second Qualifying Round encounter on Sunday 22nd September 2024, that had fans at the Swansway Stadium buzzing.
Moors in the Mire
Unfortunately Solihull Moors Women have been making national headlines for not great reasons in recent weeks.
It all started late in September when a statement released by the squad accused the club of ‘neglect’ around everything from kits to having to forfeit games and being fined due to not being able to secure a pitch to play home games on (BBC News article HERE). Solihull Moors deny these claims.
This led to their manager and entire coaching staff resigning shortly after in solidarity with their players. At least half a dozen players, including club captain Rebecca Knight, have since done the same.
Despite all this, they are three divisions higher than Nantwich coming into this and have had a longer break between games after their match last weekend was postponed and those left can be galvanised in such adversity. But they have also lost their last 3 matches in the league.
View from the Dugout
With confidence high, the Dabbers are determined to continue to make their mark in the FA Cup, proving they are a force to be reckoned with in women’s football.
Dan Mellor, Manager, Nantwich Town FC Women, speaking after their Third Qualifying Round FA Cup opponents were revealed said:
“Another home draw will only benefit us, we’ve had such strong support yet again this season and we’re so thankful for that.
“We had an aim this season to get past the first round of the cup, we’re not daft, we know our chances of winning it is zero however we can safely say we’ve been hugely successful in this cup run and if we’d have drawn a tier 2 or 3 team my outlook would have been the same; It’s 11v11, anything can happen and we certainly won’t be rolling over for anyone.
“The girls are all looking forward to it, it’ll be a huge test but it’s one we’re relishing.”
Match Information
Tickets for this huge game in Nantwich Women’s history are on the gate at £5 for adults and £2 for concessions. Kick off is at 2pm on Sunday.