Nantwich Town started their 2026-27 pre-season campaign with a comfortable 5-1 win over Crewe FC, writes Liam Price.
Played at Crewe’s new facility at The Excel, there were several debuts and returns for Nantwich in Troy Bourne, Harry Davis, Ethan Hartshorn, Liam Fitzpatrick and Ollie Pope.
Mason McKay also started following his permanent move to the Dabbers after the dual registration at the end of last season.
Fitzpatrick got on the scoresheet as he had the presence of mind to lob into an unguarded net after the Crewe keeper had come out of his goal to clear.
The goal of the game came from Crewe as they equalised with a stunning finish curled into the top corner from their number 9, leaving the Dabbers trialist keeper grasping at thin air.
But it wasn’t long before Nantwich restored the lead.
A low free-kick from Joe Collins took a nick off the wall, missed a crowd of bodies in the six yard box and went in off the Crewe keeper.
It was 3-1 just five minutes later. A combination down the left saw Perry Bircumshaw played in with a neat pass.
Perry did the rest, charging towards the byline and dinking it over the keeper from a narrow angle.
In the second half, more trialists and youngsters were given game time, with the usual effects on the flow of the game.
Reece Vaughan and Tom Horton were among them, as was Kenzie Pickles for his first Nantwich senior appearance.
Pickles almost marked this milestone with a goal but was denied by a good save.
It took until the 83rd minute for the next goal and it was Fitzpatrick again.
He cut inside from the left and hit a low shot that was very badly dealt with by the keeper, but if you don’t shoot you don’t score.
Even without the goals it was a strong first showing from the signing from 1874 Northwich.
The fact he was forced off with cramp near the end showed how hard he’d worked.
Goal number five came two minutes from time. A corner wasn’t dealt with and it was James Baillie who turned and fired high into the net.
The next game for Nantwich Town is away at Whitchurch Alport on Saturday July 11th.
It is a 3pm kick-off, not 2pm as previously advertised.
(Images courtesy of Jonathan White)
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