Football: UniBond League

Source: Crewe Chronicle

Nantwich Town 2 Frickley Athletic 2

NANTWICH Town will have a chance to cement their place in the Premier Division play-off places in front of a bumper crowd at the Weaver Stadium on Saturday.

Non-league giants FC United of Manchester are the visitors, and with Crewe Alex playing away and Manchester United not in action, a crowd of up to 2,000 is expected.

The game could not be more finely poised. Fourth-placed Dabbers are a point ahead of their rivals and have a game in hand.

Three points could make them hard to stop. Boss Steve Davis said: “We are looking forward to the game. There is a great chance of a bumper crowd and there could hardly be a better contest for them to watch at this level.

“We have a great respect and affinity for United and we always have entertaining matches with them. Saturday should be no exception and there is a great incentive for both teams to go for the win.”

Davis went on to warn his players they must improve from last weekend’s disappointing draw if they are to get anything from the game.

The boss felt Nantwich ‘carried four or five players’ and urged the slackers to get back on form.

He added: “Teams are coming here and getting 10 men behind the ball. That is a big compliment to us, but we have to learn to deal with it.

“I singled out all our wide men – Ash Carter, Danny Griggs, Richard Smith and Liam Francis – for playing well below par and now it is up to them to do better.”

Defender Dave Whittaker reported for the game but was sent home with flu. That meant Charlie O’Loughlin was forced in to starting his first game for almost three months.

The hosts hit the front on 11 minutes. Smith lofted the ball to the near post where Dave Walker stole in to glide home his 20th goal of the season.

But it was 1-1 in the 18th minute when Frickley midfielder Darren Clarke beat keeper Lee Jones from 12 yards.

The visitors went ahead in the 57th minute when Lee Morris’ cross caught O’Loughlin out and the centre-half headed in to the roof of his own net.

Substitute Glyn Blackhurst injected life into the flagging Dabbers and in the 65th minute his knockdown into the path of Micky Lennon from a Griggs corner resulted in the striker’s 20th goal of the season.