1874 NORTHWICH V BOOTLE NWCFL PREMIER 5TH AUGUST 2014 (ABANDONED DUE TO FLOODLIGHT FAILURE)
The day after the lights went out across the country to commemorate the centenary of the First World War the lights went out on 1874 Northwich and Bootle. With 1874’s first ever home NWCFL Premier Division fixture delicately poised at 0-0 the Barton Stadium floodlights went out in the 44th minute of an evenly matched contest. Referee Joe Simpson completed the first half before the on call Winsford electrician arrived during the half time interval, but despite his best efforts and the help of two electricians from the visiting club the lights remained off leaving Simpson, with the evening sky getting darker by the minute, with no choice but to call a halt to proceedings and abandon the game. There had not been much between the two sides in a competitive half of football. Bootle went closest to scoring when Kerion Brislen drew a fine save from 1874 goalkeeper Matt Conkie, who turned his shot from the edge of the area around the post. From the resultant corner Paul Connor cleared a Bootle header off the line. Connor was also in action at the other end of the pitch firing a shot just wide of the Bootle goal in the third minute. A feat he repeated in the 42nd minute when he ended a run down the right wings by chipping the ball over Bootle’s keeper from 25 yards only to see it go past the outside of the post by a matter of inches. A flash of light and a loud bang from lighting system brought to an end a frustrating evening for teams and for the 377 spectators, the highest attendance for an 1874 midweek game. 1874 – Conkie, Mitchell, Duckworth, Farnworth, Aston, Woolley, Connor, Ward, Brandon, Beadle, Bailey, Subs not used Woods, Short, Hamer, Igenoza, Abdullah. BOOTLE – Porter, Lowe, Essay, Hay, Coulton, Tyson, Adegbenro, Brislen, O’Connor, Smart, Peterson. Subs not used McShane, Williams, McGrane, McQueen, Moran. Referee – Joe Simpson Attendance 377