1874 Northwich vs Alsager Town

Recap

A much changed side saw 1874 Northwich go out of the Cheshire Senior Cup to a spirited Alsager.

1874 struggled to get a hold of the first half, the game brought few chances with Danny Thomas coming closest for 1874 as he tamely struck an effort goalwards.

Alsager should have taken the lead as a player ghosted in between Lomas and McNichol, only to go on and miss the ball after a great delivery from Josh Crofts.

1874 began to grow in to the game and control possession, with Aidan Haughton flashing a shot wide of the post after cutting in well from the right wing.

The half time whistle came and both teams were ready to start after a quick break.

The second half began as the first ended, 1874 in control of the game with Kirk beginning to link up well with Matt Woolley to set the tempo.

But it was Alsager who took the lead very much against the run of play, after what looked to be a nothing ball by Crofts, Corey Mason accidently headed the ball to Jack Woolley who had just entered the field and the forward advanced past Farnworth and confidently stroked the ball past Conkie to make it 1-0 to the visitors.

The game then became obvious, a ‘come and break us down’ from Alsager and in efforts to do so, Matty Ward and Matt Beadle were introduced. It was the latter who had the desired effect, his control and trickery in the Alsager box meant he was brought down and it was a penalty to 1874.

Stuart Wellstead confidently picked the ball up to take it, he placed it hard and low in the bottom right corner to give 1874 a deserved equaliser.

1874 then upped the pressure on to Alsager, by bringing on the pacey Danny Cawley, but Alsager defended resiliently and saw the game out in to extra time.

The game then became a bit of a non contest with both teams tiring and having the League games on Saturday in mind, the ball was more in the air than it was on the floor,

So penalties were needed in order to separate the two sides. 16 were taken and Alsager won the shootout 6-5 after 1874’s last effort was saved by Matthew Johnson in the Alsager goal which sparked big scenes of celebration by the Alsager players, as they mobbed Johnson who was the hero on the night.

Best of luck to Alsager Town in the next round of the Cheshire Senior Cup and all the best for the rest of the season!

1874 | Conkie, Mason, Thomas, Farnworth, Lomas, McNichol, Kirk, Woolley, Jackson, Wellstead, Haughton.

SUBS | Ward for Kirk. Beadle for Haughton. Cawley for Mason.

UNUSED | Brandon and Mitchell.

ATT: 181 MOTM: Stuart Wellstead

Penalties

1874                           Alsager
Woolley Y                   Smith Y
McNichol Y                 Tamakloe N
Wellstead N                Jones Y
Ward N                       Woolley Y
Beadle Y                      Elcock N

Farnworth Y             Dawson Y
Jackson Y                 Chadwick Y
Cawley N                  Krause Y