1874 Northwich vs Hanley Town

Recap

HANDY HIND
By Garry Clarke

1874 NORTHWICH 1-0 HANLEY TOWN HSL PREMIER 22ND JANUARY 2017

A Sam Hind goal early in the second half was enough for 1874 Northwich to claim all three points from a 1-0 win over Hanley Town at St Luke’s Barton Stadium. The victory moved 1874 above Runcorn Town into third in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division table two points adrift of Bootle and Atherton Collieries.

After an initial period of 1874 pressure, Hanley fired a warning shot across 1874’s bows indicating they would not have it all their own way despite enjoying more of the possession and creating more chances.

Picking up a loose ball Theo Stair advanced until shooting just over the 1874 bar. Later in the first half Stair raced through to beat the 1874 offside trap but was stopped in his tracks by a good sliding tackle by Ryan Mitchell on the defenders 150th appearance.

Dan Cope head a cross into the side netting while Mark Jones deflected an Angelo Errico shot wide as Hanley tried to relieve the first half pressure on their goal.

In the 10th minute Jason Carey played the ball behind the Hanley defence, but as Hind raced onto the ball and was about to shoot a defender nicked the ball away for a corner.

Lee Jones played in Tom Bailey and as the 1874 striker rounded the last defender he was nudged off balance and dragged his shot wide from six yards. The Jones brothers combined to set Bailey clear, his cross was met by Scott McGowan who steered the ball wide of the target.

A quickly taken free kick set McGowan free down the right wing his cross found Bailey who drilled a shot through a packed penalty area into the hands of Hanley keeper Joe Hemmings who saved low down. Hemming also saved well to deny Lee Jones after good work by McGowan.

1874 hit the front a minute into the second half. Receiving the ball just inside opposition territory Bailey slipped the ball behind the Hanley defence where Hind swooped to slot past Hemmings.

A dazed Danny Thomas was led from the pitch in the 56th minute having suffered a facial injury in a collision with a Hanley player. Thomas was replaced in the back line by midfielder Mark Jones whose afternoon was only to last a further 10 minutes.

Losing the ball to Errico, Jones helped the stumbling player to the ground as he approached by penalty area. After consulting his assistant referee Nik Storey red carded Jones leaving 1874 to play the final quarter with ten men.

Stair, who had earlier fired a free kick just over the 1874 bar, curled the resulting free kick inches wide of the target.

Mid-table Hanley came more into the game in the later stages without causing too many alarms as they were unable to find a way past a resolute 1874 defence which was backed up by confident handling from Greg Hall has he dealt with several crosses played into the area. Hanley’s only real chance of an equaliser came deep in stoppage time when the scooped the ball over the bar from a corner.

Hemmings saved a 90th minute effort from Bailey after Matt Russell won the ball in a tackle before passing to Bailey who turned and shot from the edge of the area.

1874: Hall, Connor, Russell, Mitchell, Thomas (Waldron 56), Carey, L Jones, M Jones, Bailey, McGowan (Hare 75), Hind. Subs not used M Woolley, Edwards, Whitlock.

HANLEY TOWN: Hemmings, Goldstraw, Sheldon (Higham 75), Bairstow, Blowers, Stanyer, Errico, Mellor, Mountford, Stair, Cope (Ashton 88). Subs not used Johnson, Omibeku.

GOAL 1874 Hind 46

ATTENDANCE 245 REFEREE Nik Storrey