By Oliver Shorland, photos by Jonathan White
Nantwich Town were held to a 2-2 draw by Northwich Victoria in their penultimate friendly at the Swansway Stadium, which also saw the first appearance for centre half Daniel Apantaku after impressing on trial against Prescot last week.
Along with Apantaku, there were two other changes from Friday’s defeat to Prescot Cables, with Callum Saunders and Byron Harrison coming into the side.
The first half was littered with chances for the Dabbers, the first coming in the first 6 minutes as no one was able to latch onto the end of a Perry Bircumshaw cross.
Northwich’s Sean Cooke, formerly of Nantwich, looked to give his side the lead not long after, but his attempted lob was smothered by Ben Garratt.
The Dabbers took the lead on the 16-minute mark after a cross from Aidy Roxburgh was put against the post before falling to Callum Saunders who knocked the ball into the Northwich goal with a smart finish.
Nantwich then nearly doubled their lead just minutes later as a cross to the back post was put over by Roxburgh.
Chances for the away side were few and far between in the first half, with the Northwich number seven managing to hit the side netting.
The Dabbers were then forced into a change on 32 minutes with Ben Greenop on for Ben Hockenhull.
Greenop was into the action nearly straight away, managing to latch onto a ball fed through by Saunders but hitting it straight at the oncoming goalkeeper.
Nantwich fashioned yet another chance to double the lead just minutes later as a cross from Joel Connolly was met by Byron Harrison, but the offside flag was up.
The away side tested the resilience of the Dabbers’ defence, creating a flurry of chances early on in the second half.
Another change then ensued for Nantwich as Bircumshaw was brought off for Reece Vaughan around the 50-minute mark.
Despite Northwich’s best efforts, it was the home side who struck first in the second half as captain Joel Connolly showed some brilliant skill to make it past two Northwich defenders to put the ball in the back of the net for two-nil.
However, it wasn’t long before Northwich were once again knocking at the Dabbers’ door, forcing Garratt into two saves.
The deficit was then halved on 58 minutes as a ball fizzed across the box was neatly tucked away into the bottom right-hand corner by Kieran Hamm to make it 2-1.
Northwich were at it again soon after though, hitting the post on the hour mark.
The score was indeed level not too long after, as Hamm was able to beat a defender and slot it past an on-rushing Garratt to draw Northwich Victoria level.
Callum Saunders and Alex Panter were then replaced by Paddy Jarrett and Rui Clarke-Phillips as Nantwich looked to turn the tide back in their favour.
Despite the changes, Northwich had two chances in quick succession, a spectacular half volley from Sean Cooke rising over the crossbar before hitting the home side on the counter in the aftermath of a Connolly free kick.
Byron Harrison was then replaced on the 75th minute for the evening’s only trialist.
As the minutes ticked down, a goalmouth scramble in the Nantwich box thankfully came down on the side of the Dabbers as they were able to draw the foul.
Nantwich had a few chances to win it late on, both falling at the feet of Ben Greenop, but both were put over the bar, bringing the penultimate game of preseason to a close.
Teams
Nantwich Town: Ben Garratt, Aidy Roxburgh, Perry Bircumshaw, Daniel Apantaku, Josh Williams, Ben Hockenhull, Callum Saunders, Fenton Green, Byron Harrison, Joel Connolly (c), Alex Panter
Subs: Ben Greenop, Campbell Reid, Reece Vaughan, Rui Clarke-Phillips, Trialist, Patrick Jarrett
Nantwich Goals: Saunders (16), Connolly (53)
Northwich Victoria: Andre Mendes, Trialist A, Max Sutton, Trialist B, Harry Davis, Corey Morgan, Pete Morgan, Will Lloyd, Sam Deering, Sean Cooke, Trialist C
Subs: Kandeke, Burey, Hamm, Trialist D, Barlow, Gamble, Jacaj, Trialist E
Northwich Goals: Hamm (58, 61)
Attendance: 252