Nantwich Town held by Newcastle in feisty pre-season encounter

Nantwich Town were held 1-1 by lower league Newcastle Town in a feisty encounter which saw the Dabbers reduced to 10 men.

In-form Jordan Davies gave Nantwich the lead, but the visitors pulled level after Clayton McDonald saw red for the Dabbers.

The start was an even affair with both teams probing, a tricky run across the box by Davies was one of the early highlights.

On 21 minutes, it was fitting that Davies broke the deadlock with a break down the Castle left before he slotted home past the keeper into the far corner.

Newcastle began to pick the tempo up, and on 27 minutes a mix up at the back for Nantwich caused problems as Castle fired over the bar.

On 34 minutes, the game became heated and after a number of tackles and scuffles the ref conferred with his linesman.

He produced a yellow and then a red card for Dabbers forward McDonald.

Newcastle made the extra man count and Jonny Kapend hit the bar for the visitors on 38 minutes.

Both sides made changes at the break, striker Harry Clayton coming on for Nantwich.

But on 53 minutes, the referee awarded a free kick to Newcastle on the left.

It was floated over before being headed in by Will Bailey at the back post, levelling the score.

Newcastle began to pass the ball around and pressure the Dabbers.

But the hosts continued to present a threat on the break, with Clayton going close after latching on to a nice flick header by Toby Mullarkey.

On 69 minutes, Dabbers keeper Kystian Burzynski saved at the near post with his foot to keep it 1-1.

Nantwich cleared off their own goal-line on 82 minutes, and then another break from Clayton set up his best chance, beating the keeper but seeing it go low and wide of the right post.

In the final few minutes, the visitors finished strongly but two efforts were fired over the bar.

Their final pre-season game sees the Dabbers at Kidsgrove Athletic this Saturday August 5, kick off 3pm.

(pics by Jonathan White)