Nantwich Town 2
Eastwood Town 2
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

Saturday 20th December.2008.

NANTWICH TOWN (9th) vs EASTWOOD TOWN (4th)

Tuesday’s very disappointing exit from the FA Trophy reduces Nantwich cup commitments to a single competition (Cheshire Senior Cup holders) to leave them with the league as their main focus. But with 24 games still to play, beginning with Saturday’s visit of Eastwood Town, ‘The Dabbers’ still have a long road ahead of them and it will only take a postponement or two to leave Steve Davis’s men playing twice a week between now and the end of season. During that period the aim is to achieve a play off position but there are no illusions in the Nantwich camp as regard to that particular task – it will be as hard, if not harder at this level to match last seasons 5th place. With Eastwood currently on a high, Nantwich know they will have to be at their best to get a result if they are to avenge the 3 – 1 defeat back in early October and in particular after serious defensive lapses gifted the home side maximum points.

Meanwhile, defender Charlie O’Loughlin is on the road to recovery from (calf) surgery but is likely to be a further two weeks before he will be able to commence running whilst midfielder Glyn Blackhurst (ankle ligaments) has pencilled in New Years Day as the earliest date for his return.

This weekends visit of Eastwood Town has attracted BBC TV cameras to The Weaver Stadium – the Beeb are following Eastwood, who knocked Wycombe out of the FA Cup in the first round as part of their FA Cup coverage ahead of the Nottinghamshire side’s 2nd round tie away to Kettering Town.

Saturday’s home game is the last in 2008 and as a seasonal gesture to their loyal supporters Nantwich are admitting children accompanied by an adult free of charge whilst adults will be offered seasonal fayre by way of a mince pie supplied by Chatwins. ‘The Dabbers’ are next in action on Boxing Day away to Buxton before returning to The Weaver Stadium on New Years Day when the visitors will be Cammell Laird.

Match report written by Phil Johnson