1874 Northwich vs Atherton Collieries

Recap

In extraordinary conditions at the Barton Stadium, it was the away side who adapted better to the conditions and picked up a big 3 points.

1874 went in to the game sitting top of the league, but had to make changes to the side due to injuries, Dilan Lomas came in at left back and Paul Connor replaced Jack Hindle on the wing.

The game started with both teams testing out the conditions. Colls won an early corner, with Mark Battersby narrowly missing out at the back post as the wind took hold.

1874 had a chance at the other end, Beadle used the wind to hold up the ball then delivered a cross towards Brandon, who couldn’t reach the ball before the Colls centre half and it was cleared well.

The visitors took the lead on the 13th minute, Battersby broke the 1874 offside trap and advanced on the left wing, he cut the ball back and fortuitously it hit the shins of Dilan Lomas and bobbled in to the back of Conkie’s goal.

1874 then began to grow in to the game, Paul Connor and Matt Beadle both having efforts on goal blocked well by the brave Colls defence.

In the 28th minute, 1874 were level. Michael Brandon brought the ball down around 20 yards from goal and struck a fierce shot left footed towards the right hand corner of Tabberner’s goal, the keeper got a hand to it but it wasn’t enough.

The game was end to end from now on, with Colls captain Brad Cooke having an effort on the 1874 goal headed behind for another Colls corner.

The next goal of the game came on the stroke of half time. Matt Woolley looked to have dealt with the danger from the Colls forward out wide away from goal, however the Referee saw it differently and deemed that Woolley tripped the Colls player.

Up stepped Battersby, who sent Conkie the wrong way to give Colls the lead in to half time.

1874 came out for the second half and could not adapt fully to even heavier winds as the weather worsened, but it was Colls who enjoyed the better football this half.

Hardcastle had a brilliant effort on Conkies goal after being found in space by Truffas, but the 1874 stopper tipped his effort wide of his post.

1874 had a good chance later on, with Brandon’s header being held well by Tabberner after Beadle found him with a cross from the left.

Another brilliant save by Conkie was next, a freekick from Truffas was heading to the top left hand corner, but Conkie as he has always done, pulled off a cracking save with a strong hand to tip it wide.

As the Greens pushed for an equaliser, Colls caught the home side on the counter, with Jake Kenny starting and finishing the move. He advanced with a quick one two and was left one on one with Conkie, and despite the 1874 custodian getting a touch, it was not enough and it saw Colls make it 3-1 and kill the game off.

A disappointing result against one the top sides in the division, but the lads will be looking to push on with the rest of the season starting on Saturday vs AFC Darwen at the Barton Stadium, 3pm K.O.

1874 | Conkie, Mitchell, Farnworth, Woolley (C), Lomas, Kirk, Ward, Wellstead, Brandon, Connor, Beadle. SUBS | Hindle for Connor : Cawley for Farnworth UNUSED | Chappell, Cookson, McNicholl.

ATT: 263 MOTM: Matty Ward