1874 Northwich vs Barnton

Recap

1874 Northwich 2-1 Barnton – By Jack Owen

Under the floodlights at the St Lukes Barton Stadium, 1874 recorded their second 2-1 win over local rivals Barnton and on this occasion the result ensured that 74 remained top of the league heading in to this weekend’s fixture with Abbey Hey.

The Greens could have taken the lead within the first five minutes of the game when Sam Hare curled in a delightful free kick from wide out which was met by Ryan Mitchell, but his header cannoned off the crossbar and behind for a goal kick.

Then in the 12th minute Barnton took the lead. 1874 had enjoyed most of the possession and the first goal came after Barnton cleared their lines well and launched a counter attack, from which an excellent pass from Rob Hope found Chris Quirk, who quickly outpaced the 74 defence before applying a cool finish to beat Greg Hall.

1874 looked for a quick response, and it very nearly came when Tom Bailey picked up the ball 20 yards from goal, he cut in from the left wing and bent an effort towards the bottom corner of Conkie’s goal, and with the keeper beaten, Bailey watched as his effort dropped narrowly wide of the target

However, 1874 didn’t’ have to wait much longer before they were level when, in the 27th minute, Sam Hare fired in an excellent shot from the edge of the area.

HALF TIME: 1-1

At the start of the second half 1874 immediately called Matt Conkie into action once more, and the custodian read the situation well and stopped the cross from Wellstead’s clipped cross reaching the head of Tom Bailey at the back post.

Barnton had a great chance to take the lead on the 62nd minute, when a cross evaded all 1874 defenders and found a Barnton forward at the back post, but his free header went over the cross bar.

After this narrow scare 1874 turned up the pressure on the visitors, pushing them back deep into their own half. The hard working Scott McGowan forced Conkie in to a good save from distance, and then moments later a flurry of shots tested Conkie once more and once again he was equal to the task – this time saving well from Stuart Wellstead.

However, 1874’s persistence broke through Barnton’s resistance, when in the 81st minute, Rick Bailey produced a great piece of skill out wide to cut inside the fullback, and composed himself before driving the ball past Conkie and his near post.

FULL TIME: 2-1

1874: Hall, Wellstead, Mitchell, C.Jones (R.Bailey 75), Russell, Hind, Hare, M.Jones, M.Woolley (C), T.Bailey, McGowan (Carroll 84)
Unused Subs: Simpson, J.Woolley.

MOTM: Sam Hare Attendance: 265