Coppack Stunner Earns Point in Boxing Day Battle

1874 Northwich extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches with a hard-fought Boxing Day draw away against the league leaders, in a competitive encounter where two long-range strikes proved decisive.

Despite travelling without leading scorer Mike Hayes, alongside Haydn Cooper and Dale Jennings, the Greens delivered a disciplined and resilient performance on the Vics’ own patch.
“It was a good performance against the top of the league without some key players,” said manager Chris Herbert. “All in all, it wasn’t a bad result. It was important that we didn’t get beaten.”
1874 enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, dominating possession for large spells in the first half. Clear-cut chances were at a premium, with the half ending goalless.

The second half swung in the hosts’ favour as Vics began to dictate possession, and their pressure eventually told. A shot heading straight for Jack Atkinson in the Northwich goal took a cruel deflection to find the net, rewarding a sustained spell of control.

But 1874 responded in the best possible fashion. Jacson Coppack capped an industrious display with a superb long-range strike — a goal worthy of winning any game — to restore parity and secure a deserved point.
“It was two strong teams who didn’t want to give anything away,” Herbert reflected. “Jacson’s goal was a fantastic strike and his reward for all his hard work, but in the end we had to settle for a point.”

Defensively, the Greens stood firm throughout, with Niall Osborne producing an outstanding individual performance to nullify one of the league’s most dangerous wide threats.
“Niall is top draw and deserves all the praise,” said Herbert. “Jefferson Abrue is a very good player and we knew we had to keep him quiet. We set Niall that job and he carried it out perfectly.”

There was also a welcome return for Josh Oultram, making his second debut for the club. His physical presence played a key role in dealing with a direct Vics side that utilised long throws at every opportunity.

“Josh is a great lad and always gives us everything,” Herbert added. “We needed his height, and I thought he and Rob Hopley worked their backsides off up there without getting too many chances.”

The draw keeps 1874 Northwich firmly in the title conversation, extending their run to eight wins and three draws in their last 11 outings.
“It’s a long season — leagues aren’t won in December,” Herbert said. “But December tells you who the front runners are, and we’re firmly in that pack now. We’ve got some tough games coming up, so we need to raise our levels again.”

Finally, the manager reserved special praise for the travelling support.
“The fans were brilliant and gave us a lift when we needed it most,” Herbert said. “That consistency from everyone — players and supporters — is going to be vital if we’re going to keep putting pressure on the top teams.”