And so to Moor Lane, and some more of that FA Cup magic. Today, Salford City - who progress with a thrilling 6-4 extra time replay win over the Bears of Congleton Town - against Nantwich Town.
NantwichTown was formed in 1884 and became a founder member of the North West Counties Football League in 1982. Having won the FA Vase in 2006, the following season brought promotion and a move to their new Weaver Stadium at Kingsley Fields in the town. Their inaugural season there brought another promotion to the current level, Evostik Premier, one step above Salford. Nicknamed 'The Dabbers' but no one is too sure why - the best guess being after the wattle and daub buildings in Nantwich, with daubers being corrupted to dabbers.
Past the AJ
Bell, indoor skydiving (and how does that work, exactly?) and invisible workmen
on the Smart Motorway it's an exit at Prestwich. Onto the A56, passing the
renowned Railway and Naturalist pub and then St Marys Flower Park before
reaching Kersal and Moor Lane.
Inside the ground it's a steep descent down the stairs to the pitch - indeed a
cluster of people choose to spectate from the high vantage point by the
turnstiles. Philip, Gary and Neville Neville are in attendance today, which
explains the 3 TV gantries around the ground as filming of the Class of 92
takeover of the Ammies continues.
The ground is set in a residential estate but heavily screened by trees. Behind
the near goal is a large grassed area, with several young children playing football
and others bouncing on the giant inflatable giraffe - oh the magic of the cup
!!
Next to a burger van, the main concrete stand is sat well back from the pitch;
there is a small area of seats in one corner, but the rest is red and white
concrete tiers - reminiscent of lower league European teams, but with a roof !
By the corner is a bar, refreshment area, shop and changing rooms - we are
warned that since it is the cup, alcohol can only be drunk in the bar
(definitely not magic !). The other entrance, appropriately on Nevile Road, is
tucked in too.
At the top end is car parking including a cherry picker, behind which is a
school, but the view is dominated by the church rising magnificently above the
treetops. There's a wry smile or two at the BMW that has sunk into the
turf..... Opposite the main stand is a small covered terrace displaying SCFC
1940 2014, steep grass banking and discarded advertising hoardings. The terrace
is quickly monopolised by 20 or so singing Dabbers fans and their drummer, with
SCFC covered by a 'Where there's Frank there's hope' flag....
Nantwich are
in green shirts, proudly displaying 130 years of football, black shorts and red
and black hooped socks. Salford in red and white start hesitantly, almost
nervously, whilst the Dabbers display more confidence, but there are too many
misplaced passes.
A ball breaks loose and Salford's Nicky Platt (no longer in Coronation Street
!) has the first real chance but it hits the legs of Nantwich keeper, Aaron
Ashley. For the Dabbers, Aaron Burns' header is tipped away by Jay Lynch and
then Max Harrop hits the crossbar with a free kick. Ammies' Sam Madeley's
powderpuff shot, when played in by Gareth Seddon, trickles through to the
keeper.
At half time the Nantwich choir belt out 'Shoes off if you're wunderbar', with
their trainers duly removed, and then both sides are kept waiting for a good
few minutes before the officials arrive for the second half - prompting a
rendition of 'It's nice to know you're here' from the Salford faithful.....
The second period is nip and tuck, with Nantwich just shading it, before the
match changes in the final quarter. Salford take the game by the scruff of the
neck, Seddon is denied twice and Danny Webber refused a clear penalty. Then
with a quarter of an hour to go, Seddon gets free at a corner and nods home
unchallenged.
The Dabbers, who have lost their shape, rally but their best effort, sub Vinny
Mukendi's shot is straight down Lynch's throat. In injury time Salford break
and Webber, instead of squaring, toys with the Nantwich defence before slamming
in an unstoppable shot - pure class !
2-0 at the end and, on paper, a shock - but probably not too much of a
surprise ☺
