1874 Northwich vs Bootle

Recap

1874 played out an entertaining draw against Bootle in their 2023 Townfield bow.

Mark Jones lead out the side as captain on his 200th appearance for 1874 (Photo: Xenia Simpson)

74 were without club captain Matthew Woolley who was unavailable and Jacob Hamman who sat the game out with an injury sustained at the midweek loss to Prescot Cables.

The first half was far from a classic, with both sides battling the majority of play out in the middle of the park. However the visitors took the lead with one of the rare attacks either side could muster in the opening half an hour, a cross found Tom Peterson in the middle who guided a header into the bottom right corner of Aghayere’s goal.

Bootle were attempting to get a hold of the game knowing 1874 hadn’t yet got their game going, a shot flashed wide of the goal from Ben Hodkinson in the closest the visitors got to extending their lead.

As the half ran down to come to its conclusion, 1874 began to play. Joe Woolley acrobatically hooked an effort towards goal but the keeper was equal and saved easily. Josh Quarless then powered a header wide of the goal.

A better last five minutes for 74′ to take into the second half.

1874 came out for the second half on the front foot and had a big shout for a penalty, Jack Irlam was clattered through the back inside the area, the referee waved away all protests much to the surprise of both sides who was expecting a penalty to be awarded.

Mackenzie O’Neill cut inside and burst into the area, his powerful strike was tipped behind for a corner, the delivery was swung in by Fenton Green and had to be tipped behind as the cross nearly snook in at the near post.

Jamal Crawford and Cal Gardner were introduced from the bench for 1874 to push the team on to capitalise on the pressure we were putting on the Bootle defence.

Cal Gardner won the ball back inside our half and carried the ball upfield, he found Jack Irlam in space who played a beautifully weighted ball over the back line to Mackenzie O’Neill who rounded the keeper and slid the ball home into an open net for a more than deserved equaliser.

Joe Woolley and the rest of Townfield thought the midfielder found the winner for 1874 as his strike from 20 yards skimmed the upright as it whistled behind.

The game ended and both sides can be happy with a point after a really good contest.