1874 Northwich vs Atherton Collieries

Recap

ANOTHER PITFALL FOR 74 AS COLLIERIES DIG DEEP
By Garry Clarke

1874 NORTHWICH 1-2 ATHERTON COLLIERIES HSL PREMIER 15TH APRIL 2017

League leaders Atherton Collieries came from behind to defeat 1874 Northwich for the third time this season to strengthen their position on top of the Hallmark Security League Premier Division.

After an initial feeling out period at a blustery St Luke’s Barton Stadium, Mark Battersby sent two shots wide of 1874’s goal before Joe Wooley scuffed a shot wide of Colls’ goal.

Scott McGowan shot 1874 into the lead netting his 20th goal of the season in the 18th minute. Sam Hare swung in a corner for the right, the ball dropped to McGowan who smashed it home from 12 yards.

McGowan came close to adding a second two minutes later. Colls struggled to clear a free kick from their area. The ball fell to McGowan who drilled in a shot from a tight angle which Colls’ goalkeeper Adam Reid managed to block at the near post.

Vincent Bailey had the ball in the 1874 net in the 23rd minute but was flagged offside.

Receiving the ball 30 yards out from goal, Tom Bailey unleashed a low shot from distance which beat a diving Reid only to strike the foot of the post.

Colls started to dominate the later stages of the first half with Battersby heading wide from a free kick and drawing two five saves from Greg Hall before Josh Messer shot over the bar, while at the other end Reid saved well to deny McGowan.

The visitors drew level on the stroke of half time. Mark Truffas was pushed on the edge of the area by Joe Woolley, referee Darren Rogers judged the contact to be inside the penalty area and Battersby sent Hall the wrong way as he successfully converted the spot kick.

1874 started the second half on top with Sam Hind firing a shot over Colls’ bar and Woolley having a shot deflected wide in the opening minutes. Hare and Woolley worked a short corner to allow Hare a shot at goal which beat Reid but was cleared off the line by Gareth Peet. McGowan and Hind combined to set up Hare whose shot from the edge of the area was pushed away for a corner by Reid. From the resultant corner Bailey shot over the bar.

As the second half progressed, Colls started to gain the upper hand. Truffas ended a good run by drawing a fine save from Hall in the 63rd minute, while captain Ryan Mitchell blocked a Bradley Cooke effort after a free kick had found him unmarked in 1874’s area.

In the 70th minute Paul Connor caused panic in the Colls’ rearguard with a cross from the right. Bailey, Hare and McGowan all had shots blocked by desperate defenders in the ensuing scramble.

Hall palmed a Truffas shot away for a corner in the 80th minute but could not prevent Ben Hardcastle scoring the winning goal two minutes later with a stunning goal shooting from distance.

Another Connor cross in the closing minutes of an entertaining game found Bailey whose header was well saved by Reid. From the corner a goalmouth scramble ended when Hall, having joined his colleagues at the other end of the pitch, turned the ball wide of the goal as Colls held on for the win.

1874 – Hall, Connor, Russell, Mitchell, Lever, Hare, J Woolley (Bove 65), L Jones (M Woolley 79), Bailey, McGowan (Kennerley 86), Hind. Subs not used Carey, Whitlock.

COLLS – Reid, Kenny, Peet, Messer (Mason 55), Lafferty, Forbes, Hardcstle, Cooke, Battersby (Cover 76), Bailey, Truffas (West 88). Subs not used Brookes, Grimshaw.

GOALS 1874 – McGowan 18 COLLS – Battersby 45pen, Hardcastle 82

ATTENDANCE 341 REFEREE – Darren Rogers

Man of the match selected by match sponsor JAMES Wood = Ryan Mitchell.

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