By Myles Hocknell, photos by Peter Robinson
Nantwich Town FC Women came from behind to secure a fantastic 3-1 victory over Crewe Alexandra at the Swansway Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The Dabbers made a fast start and looked the stronger side during the opening 10 minutes. Their first corner came in the third minute after a mix-up between the Crewe goalkeeper and defender.
Katie Greenwood registered Nantwich’s first shot on target in the seventh minute, striking straight at the goalkeeper from outside the box. Crewe’s first corner arrived a few minutes later, but Nantwich keeper Connie Watts confidently collected.
Despite Nantwich’s strong start, Crewe took the lead against the run of play, a looping header from a long throw finding its way into the net.
The Dabbers immediately searched for a response, winning two corners in quick succession, with one seeing the ball taken from Amanda Fallon’s feet just as she looked ready to strike. Layla Woollam showed her dominance in the air winning every aerial duel coming her way.
As the game approached the 20-minute mark, Nantwich were still searching for an equaliser. Excellent work between Meg Ragdale and Charlotte Crees down the left, saw Ragdale put a cross dangerously in front of a number of Dabbers players attacking the six-yard box.
Corie Mather’s in-swinging corner in the 31st minute narrowly missed Crees at the back post with the ball falling to Greenwood outside the area who was fouled outside the penalty area. Crees stepped up and delivered a fantastic free-kick, curling the ball beyond the goalkeeper and into the net to level the scores.
The equaliser settled the Dabbers, who began to find their rhythm. A ball over the top sent Crees through on goal and, after taking it round the keeper, she managed to get the ball to Tegan Ansell, whose effort was saved.
The Dabbers finished the first half strongly and the half-time whistle blew with the score 1-1.
Crewe started the second half brightly, winning an early corner which was cleared by Woollam. Nantwich continued to look dangerous with the ball.
Ragdale tried her luck from range but fired high and wide, while Fallon almost caught the goalkeeper out with a high effort from a ball over the top, the keeper getting fingertips to it to divert it behind for a corner.
Then, in the 70th minute, Crees produced a moment of quality. A strike from outside the penalty area landed in the top-right corner of the goal. A phenomenal strike from the Nantwich winger.
Minutes later, Nantwich were awarded a penalty for a foul on Fallon, who stepped up calmly and smashed the ball into the bottom left corner past the Alex keeper.
From there, it was all Nantwich. Tegan Ansell tried her luck from outside the box but saw her effort go straight at the goalkeeper, while Poppy Emery and Meg Andrews continued to terrorise the left side of the Crewe defence.
Crewe managed to create a late opening, but Andrews was there to stand in their way and prevent the danger from developing.
At the other end, Abi Poulton came close from outside the box, forcing a great save from the Crewe goalkeeper and earning another corner.
The Dabbers controlled the closing stages, keeping possession in the corner and seeing out the game to secure a deserved 3-1 victory. After falling behind, Nantwich showed real character to turn the game around, delivering a memorable comeback victory under the lights at the Swansway Stadium.
The GOAT Nantwich Player of the Match was awarded to Layla Woollam after her outstanding performance in the centre of the Nantwich defence.
Dabbers Manager Dan Mellor had this to say on the 3-1 win over The Alex:
“It’s a fantastic result and a really important win for us, particularly because it was the first derby between the two clubs.
It was a feisty game, as you’d expect, but I thought our players showed real character and maturity throughout. We never allowed the emotion of the occasion to take us away from what we wanted to do with the ball and ultimately I thought our quality told.
We played some really exciting football, created some excellent opportunities and across the 90 minutes, I felt we thoroughly deserved to come out on top.
I’m incredibly proud of my players, we showed the quality, mentality and togetherness that we’ve been talking about and to win 3-1 is a fantastic moment for everyone connected with Nantwich Town.
We’ll enjoy the result because these are the games you want to win, but it’s important we stay grounded. We’ve made a really positive start at this level and now it’s about continuing to set those standards and building on what we’ve started.”
Nantwich Starting 11: Connie Watts, Meg Andrews, Corie Mather, Sam Cawley, Layla Woollam, Katie Greenwood, Anna Shimizu, Meg Ragdale (C), Amanda Fallon, Tegan Ansell, Charlotte Crees.
Substitutes: Josie Alderman, Milly Lewis, Poppy Emery, Abi Poulton, Evie Lewis.
Nantwich Town FC Women’s next game is on Sunday 23rd August against Tranmere Rovers away from home. They return to the Swansway Stadium on Sunday 30th August, where they face Bury FC, kick off 2pm.