Nantwich Town were beaten 2-1 at Stafford Rangers on Bank Holiday Monday in Staffordshire, writes Liam Price.
The Dabbers had something approaching their strongest XI with Paddy Kennedy, Callum Saunders, Joel Connolly and Byron Harrison back in contention.
The main tactical tweak was shifting Kelvin Mellor into midfield and trying to secure the right-hand side with Perry Bircumshaw and Josh Williams out there.
But after just 16 seconds this was pretty much in tatters.
A move straight down that right-hand side ended with a cross that was turned in brilliantly by Zidan Sutherland.
The home side threatened to inflict more damage early on, Jack Birch forcing Ben Garratt into action then Joe Cuff bringing an even better save out of the Dabbers keeper.
After riding out the early storm, Nantwich began to get some control of the game, if not the chances to go with it.
Joel Connolly had a shot blocked and Ben Hockenhull was a bit too ambitious with an overhead kick.
Aidy Roxburgh clipped in a cross that Bircumshaw met at the far post with Arron Davies pushing it away.
Mellor drove a shot into a crowd of bodies, then Kennedy headed the subsequent corner over the bar in clear space.
Former Dabber Dan Cockerline saw a space open up for him to shoot but could only hit it into the body of Garratt.
After Connolly missed the target with a free kick, Cockerline came even closer when glancing a long throw in just past the far post.
Cuff unsuccessfully tried to lob Garratt but the home side were building momentum again and struck once more just before the break.
Stafford exploited the spaces and Birch was able to tuck the ball away at the back post totally unmarked.
Boro almost made it three early in the second period.
A corner was flicked on and turned over the bar at the back post again.
The Dabbers have looked vulnerable from crosses all season and pre-season.
Saunders tried to get the Dabbers going with a low shot that was parried away by Davies.
Harrison saw a shot blocked, before Connolly was off target with another free kick.
There were further flashes but no goals, until Nantwich finally found something with just over 15 minutes to go.
Two subs were involved as Byron Moore crossed towards Panter who headed against the post but into the path of Harrison to halve the deficit with a close-range finish.
This rocked Stafford and for the first time in the game they looked nervous.
Aidy Roxburgh sought to make it 2-2 but saw his powerful shot blocked away.
A frantic goalmouth scramble moments later involved Davies twice having to push the ball away as Nantwich somehow couldn’t force it over the line.
That was the chance and after that Stafford settled, barring a late shot from Hockenhull that didn’t trouble the Port Vale loanee.
Nantwich teams don’t often win at Stafford, that’s been the case for seven years.
Stafford climb to second in Northern Premier League West, while Nantwich are eighth after five matches.
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