New Mills vs 1874 Northwich

Recap

1874 PUT THROUGH THE MILL BUT COME OUT ON TOP
by Garry Clarke

NEW MILLS 2-4 1874 NORTHWICH HALLMARK SECURITY LEAGUE PREMIER
3RD DECEMBER 2016

No one amongst the 177 strong crowd could complain about the standard of entertainment on offer high in the Derbyshire hills as Church Lane’s biggest attendance of the season witnessed 1874 Northwich come from behind to defeat New Mills.

The first goal scoring chance of an open game in which both teams first instinct was to attack fell to 1874, Captain Mark Jones heading over from a corner in the second minute.

A minute later the home side, who had not won a HSL game in their 13 previous attempts, opened the scoring with a well taken goal. Hayden Foulds raced down the right wing before pulling a low cross into the path of Tunde Owolabi who drilled the ball first time into the 1874 net.

Buoyed by their early goal New Mills played with a confidence and style which belied their lowly league position. Owolabi fired a shot against an upright in the 6th minute and ten minutes later forced 1874 custodian Greg Hall to push a low cross away to safety as fellow New Mills attackers were closing in.

While the home side were looking dangerous going forward their rearguard were put under intense pressure by 1874 who in search of an equaliser submitted the New Mills defence to wave after wave of attack.

The “Millers” goalkeeper Jake O’Regan pulled off several fine saves to keep 1874 at bay while his defenders scrambled the ball clear on several occasions, while a number of efforts hit the woodwork or missed the target by a matter of inches. Tom Bailey and Scott McGowan both had attempts cleared off the line, while from an 8th minute corner Sam Hind hit a goal bound shot into the back of McGowan, who then back heeled the ball wide.

The 1874 faithful were starting get a sense of déjà vu as memories of last weekend’s game at Silsden started to come flooding back until 1874 finally found the back of the net in the 40th minute. Rising highest at a corner, the unmarked Danny Thomas planted a firm header past O’Regan to put the visitors on the scoreboard.

A minute later Tyler Edwards went close to adding a second running onto an inch perfect long diagonal ball from Mark Jones he twisted and turned his way past the New Mills defence before firing inches over the bar. It was not long before 1874 hit the front with Sam hare scoring on the stroke of half time, running onto a McGowan cross he struck a first time shot past O’Regan from the edge of the area.

1874’s advantage was increased three minutes into the second half, the outstanding Jones released McGowan down the left wing, Bailey slid in a the far post to turn McGowan’s low cross into the net from close range.

Bailey drew a fine save from O’Regan and McGowan scuffed a shot wide before relegation threatened New Mills pulled a goal back with a stunning free kick, Foulds blasting the ball past Hall from just outside the penalty area.

Having gone close with an acrobatic over head kick a few minutes previously livewire McGowan received a cross with his back to goal, he controlled the ball turned fired in a shot which was well saved by O’Regan, following up Sam Hind drove the rebound goal wards where Bailey was on hand to steer the ball home from close range to complete the scoring in the 80th minute.

In the closing minutes a little piece of history was created when Adam Whitlock, the latest player to graduate from the club’s under 21s team, replaced Hind becoming the 100th player to represent 1874 Northwich FC in a competitive fixture.

NEW MILLS: O’Regan, Arklie-Young, Golden, Jones, J Taylor (Johnson HT), L Taylor, Stringer-Moth (Collinson 65), Hopper, Douglas-Pringle, Foulds, Owolabi (Marshall 65). Subs not used Coleman, Martin.

1874: Hall, Connor, Russell, M Jones, Thomas, Hare, Hind (Whitlock 85), Waldron, Bailey, McGowan (Jack Woolley 85) Edwards (Jackson 80). Subs not used L Jones, Tulloch

GOALS – New Mills Owolabi 3, Foulds 68 1874 Thomas 45, Hare 40, Bailey 48,80

ATTENDANCE 177 REFEREE Dean Watson