1874 Northwich vs Abbey Hey

Recap

Football was back with a bang at the Barton Stadium, as 1874 left it late to overcome a very hard working and well organised Abbey Hey side.

Assistant Manager, Paul Bowyer, made a few changes to the side with Ryan Mitchell and Danny Thomas both being unavailable and they were replaced by Neil Chappell and Paul Connor.

The game started at a fast pace, with Ryan Jackson and Matt Beadle combining down the left hand side for 1874, but Jackson’s dangerous cross towards Brandon was turned behind for a corner.

Following another corner Jackson played a good ball into Beadle who looped a header goal wards to beat the keeper but rebounded clear off the cross bar and was cleared

1874 were on top at this point, and it was their goalkeeper McIlwaine that was pulling out all the stops to keep Abbey Hey in the game. He excelled when producing an impressive double save to first deny Beadle and then Brandon on the rebound.

Soon the visitors came more into the game, and when striker Sam Hind found himself in a “one on one” situation with Greg Hall, it was the 1874 keeper who “made himself big” to pull off a fantastic save to deny the forward when an opening goal seemed more likely.

1874 pressed forward at every opportunity and although a good few corners were earned nothing came of them as the Abbey Hey defence, well marshalled by Flanagan, held strong and then in the 38th minute the visitors took the lead when, after breaking at pace, Sam Hind was set in on goal and he made no mistake in rounding Greg Hall in the Northwich goal and slotting the ball home.

HT – 1874 Northwich 0-1 Abbey Hey

The second half began with 1874 having a lot of the ball and more corners but few real chances but when a good chance did arrive Beadles effort was well saved.

The game was very open and although most of it was taking place in the middle third another goal or two was always likely and so it proved when in the 78th minute, after chaos in the Abbey Hey area Neil Chappell produced a stunning volley into the top right hand corner giving McIllwaine no chance

Suddenly 1874, had more belief and they pushed forward for a winning goal, and only five minutes later, substitute Stott thought he’d done just that, as Beadle played him in, but his effort skimmed the post.

Then in the 90th minute and following an almighty scramble in the Abbey Hey goalmouth scramble, 1874 were awarded a 90th minute penalty, after an off the ball incident between Brandon and McIllwaine which resulted in the Abbey Hey keeper receive a red card

Top scorer Matt Beadle stepped up, and he fired a superb penalty into the left hand corner of the goal to give the stand in keeper no chance.

1874: Hall, Connor, Farnworth, Woolley (C), James, Chappell, Ward, Wellstead, Brandon, Jackson, Beadle.

SUBS: Brooks for Wellstead 60 mins, Stott for Woolley 70 mins and Riley for Chappell 85mins

UNUSED SUBS: Lomas and J. Woolley

Attendance: 201

Sponsors Man of the Match: Ryan Jackson