By Liam Price, photos by Jonathan White
Nantwich Town started pre-season with a comfortable 5-1 win over Crewe FC.
Played at Crewe’s impressive new facility at The Excel, there were several debuts/returns for Nantwich in Troy Bourne, Harry Davis, Ethan Hartshorn, Liam Fitzpatrick and Ollie Pope. Mason McKay also started following his permanent move to the Dabbers after the dual reg at the end of last season.
Fitzpatrick got on the scoresheet as he had the presence of mind to lob into an unguarded net after the Crewe keeper had come out of his goal to clear.
The goal of the game came from Crewe as they equalised with a stunning finish curled into the top corner from their number 9, leaving the Dabbers trialist keeper grasping at thin air.
But it wasn’t long before Nantwich restored the lead. A low free kick from Joe Collins took a nick off the wall, missed a crowd of bodies in the six yard box and went in off the Crewe keeper. As something that looked like a shot on target, the goal was Collins’.
It was 3-1 just 5 minutes later. A combination down the left saw Perry Bircumshaw played in down the left with a neat pass. Perry did the rest, charging towards the byline and dinking in over the keeper from a narrow angle. He doesn’t score many but they’re usually pretty smart goals when he does.
In the second half, more trialists and youngsters were given game time, with the usual effects on the flow of the game. Reece Vaughan and Tom Horton were among them, as was Kenzie Pickles for his first Nantwich senior appearance. A prolific goalscorer from a number 10 role for the trophy winning Dabbers U18s side last season, he could be one to watch over the next year or two.
Pickles almost marked this milestone with a goal but was denied by a good save.
It took until the 83rd minute for the next goal and it was Fitzpatrick again, who cut inside from the left and hit a low shot that was very badly dealt with by the keeper, but if you don’t shoot you don’t score. Even without the goals it was a strong first showing from the signing from 1874 Northwich; the fact he was forced off with cramp near the end showed how hard he’d worked.
Goal number 5 came 2 minutes from time. A corner wasn’t dealt with and it was James Baillie who turned and fired high into the net.
The next game for Nantwich Town is away at Whitchurch Alport on Saturday 11th July. Please note that is now a 3pm kick-off, not 2pm as previously advertised as the time was changed this week.
Nantwich Team
Trialist, Aidy Roxburgh, Perry Bircumshaw, Troy Bourne, Harry Davis (C), Ethan Hartshorn, Mason McKay, Joe Collins, Byron Moore, Ollie Pope, Liam Fitzpatrick
Subs: Trialist (x4), Tom Horton, Reece Vaughan, Kenzie Pickles, James Baillie
Goals: Fitzpatrick (13′, 83′), Collins (22′), Bircumshaw (27′), Baillie (88′)