1874 Northwich vs Tow Law Town

Recap

1874 GO NAP TO PROGRESS IN THE BUIDBASE FA VASE

1874 NORTHWICH FC 5 V 1 TOW LAW LANE FC

1874 produced one of their best and most comprehensive displays ever in the FA Vase competition as they easily dispatched their opponents from the North East to set up a mouthwatering North West Counties Football League derby against Ashton Athletic in the next round.

After the tie was unfortunately postponed last Saturday – much to the disappointment of everyone – the players set about in earnest trying to get a hold of the game and understandably play switched from end to end in the opening twenty minutes with both goalkeepers being tested and subsequently proving that they were both up to the task in hand.

In some ways the final score line perhaps flattered 1874 but many onlookers will say that in fact the margin of their victory could have been even greater.

Right from the kick off it was evident that “both sides were up for it” and the officials had to keep a close eye on the competitive battles around the field and that was particularly the case as the visitors’ defence struggled throughout to thwart the wing play of both Taylor Kennerely and Adam Whitlock as both youngsters were keen to impress from the start.

Play switched from end to end as both sides searched for the “all-important” opening goal and either side could have taken the lead on many occasions in the opening half hour but a combination of good goalkeeping and poor finishing ensured that the teams were level until the 37th minute when 1874’s “Mr. Consistency” Scot McGowan opened the scoring by finishing off a good footballing move by his side.

Somewhat inevitably this goal increased the tempo of the game as the visitors searched for an equaliser whilst the home side defended well in numbers but at the same time they tried to create more chances through their wing play

The interval arrived without any further goals but afterwards the game certainly came alight courtesy of some excellent passages of play by 1874 as once again their two wide men started to terrorize the Tow Law defenders and as such the 1874 men had to endure some rough treatment by the opponents desperate defending and indeed although there were a number of bookings many at the game thought that the visitors were lucky to end the game with eleven players still on the field.

The all-important second goal came after 50 minutes and it was scored by a cool finish from Whitlock after a quick counter-attack by 1874 and it was certainly no more than 1874 deserved.

But the two-goal deficit seemed to rock the visitors and as such there was then an apparent urgency about their play as they tried to get back into the tie and in doing so the game could have developed into a real battle but fortunately 1874’s players kept their discipline and continued to play good football and searched for a third goal rather than trying to sit on their two goal lead and concentrate on defending their lead.

They did this brilliantly and it was no real surprise when the lead was increased in the 65th minute with an excellent finish from Jake Parker – his third goal in the last four games – and one that sent the home crowd into raptures.

Many footballing experts say that teams are at their most vulnerable after scoring and this may have been the case for 1874 as Tow Law reduced the deficit to two goals as Thexton rifled a shot into the net after the ball had been lost by some poor defending by 1874 – a rare occurrence on the evening!

If any home supporters were starting to get a little nervous then that wouldn’t have lasted long as the three-goal margin was quickly restored as McGowan found the net again in the 72nd minute and then in the last minute of the game substitute Waite-Jackson added the fifth with an exquisite free kick finishing in the top left hand corner of the goal with the keeper still rooted to the centre spot of his goal line

1874: Hall; Mitchell; Lee Jackson; Pritchard; Meadowcroft; Jones: Whitlock; Matt Woolley; McGowan; Parker & Kennerley. Subs: Riley, Hind, Waite-Jackson, Haughton & Woods

Referee: Dale Barnes Attendance: 229