1874 Northwich vs AFC Liverpool

Recap

Coming off the back of a hectic midweek schedule, 1874 were looking to get back to winning ways against fellow fan owned side AFC Liverpool on a sunny day at the Barton Stadium, our first Saturday home fixture since December.

The game started with the away side flying out of the blocks, with Griffiths finding space on the left side of the 1874 box, his cross was met by Craig Farnworth who cleared well.

The game fell in to an even contest with most of the play happening in the center of the pitch. On the 20 minute mark, Woolley found Jackson down the right with a great ball over the top, he played a one-two with Edwards, the resulting cross found Beadle who could only head over the bar.

The best chance of the half came on the 26th minute, Liverpool attacker Calvert had a shot brilliantly saved by Greg Hall and the follow up by Adegbenro was saved by the feet of Hall and out for a corner to AFC.

Stuart Wellstead collected the ball on his chest and powered a great volleyed effort goalwards, but was denied by a flying O’Connell who parried the ball behind for a corner.

HALF TIME: 1874 0-0 AFC

The second half began the same as the first, Liverpool taking the game to 1874, this time Hall was at hand again to make a smart save to hold Adegbenro’s powerful drive.

Only moments later, O’Connell made an unbelievable save. He managed to fling himself back across his goal to deny Beadle, who stabbed Jackson’s cross goalbound. The save was met by applause from the 261 in attendance.

The only goal of the game arrived in the 66th minute. Beadle won a battle with the captain Swatton and headed the ball in to the path of Tyler Edwards, who brought the ball down on his chest and powered a low, hard finish in to the bottom left corner of the goal. This was Edwards’ first for the club since his switch from Maine Road.

Edwards, now with momentum behind him, started to relax in his performance and probably should have had another goal. He produced wonderful quick feet to beat two AFC Liverpool players to advance in to the area, he turned his last man to stab a shot goalwards, but O’Connell was there to stop the attacker.

1874 saw the game out and secured another 3 points in their quest for back to back top 4 finishes.

1874 NORTHWICH:
Hall, Connor, Mitchell, Farnworth, Lomas, Woolley (C), Riley, Wellstead, Edwards, Jackson (Simpson 81), Beadle (Brandon 76)

AFC LIVERPOOL:
O’Connell, Williams, Essery, Molyneux, Swattton (C), Christou, Griffiths, Speed, Wright, Calvert, Adegbenro

ATTENDANCE: 261
MOTM: Tyler Edwards