1874 Northwich vs Maine Road

Recap

1874 NORTHWICH 4-2 MAINE ROAD NWCFL PREMIER 18TH OCTOBER 2014

Second half goals from two ex Maine Road players – Matt Beadle and Neil Chappell – sparked life into a lacklustre 1874 Northwich performance as they came from behind to claim all three points against a much improved Maine Road outfit.

Defeated 2-1 on their last visit to the Barton Stadium in an FA Cup tie back in August, Maine Road have in recent weeks climbed up the NWCFL Premier Division table, arriving in 6th place just four points behind 1874 they started the game much the livelier. Rick Williams fired an early shot into the side netting while Josh Harper also shot wide of the target in the opening 20 minutes. Having kept six consecutive clean sheets, Matt Conkie was beaten in the 24th minute when former Northwich Victoria striker Gavin Salmon turned a Harper cross into the net from close range to open the scoring.

As the first half progressed 1874 started to come more into the game but too many balls played into the visitor’s penalty area failed to find a colleague, being easily collected by the safe hands of Maine Road goalkeeper Ryan Livesey. Beadle and former Maine Road team mate Paul Connor had 1874’s best first half chances.

Beadle let a Jamie Tandy cross run across the edge of the box into the path of Connor whose angled drive was deflected over the bar for a corner, before Beadle drew a fine save from Livesey in the 35th minute. Receiving the ball 20 yards out with his back to goal, Beadle held off a defender’s challenge to fire in a short on the turn which Livesey turned away for a corner.

Josh Tinker fired a shot just over the 1874 cross bar in the closing minutes of the first half as did Harper in the opening minutes of the second after Salmon had disposed Conkie on the edge of the area.

With manager Ian Street’s half time words of wisdom still ringing in their ears, 1874 upped their game drawing level in the 54th minute. Confidently taking crosses in the first half Livesey, challenged by Kurtis Gill, failed to hold a Beadle cross allowing the ball to fall to Neil Chappell. Maine Road’s all time record goal scorer needed no second invitation hammering the ball home from eight yards.

Two minutes later 1874 hit the front. Tandy swung in a dangerous cross from the left, Gill won the ball in the air knocking it down to Mike Brandon, who in the act of controlling the ball was fouled leaving the referee no option but to point to the penalty spot. Beadle converted the spot kick smashing the ball into the roof of the net.

Now in control of the game 1874 continued to push forward with Tandy setting up Brandon, whose shot flew over the bar, before the same pairing combined to score 1874’s third goal in the 72nd minute. Tandy’s left wing cross was met at the far post by Brandon who bulleted a header past Livesey.

Three minutes later Williams took advantage of some poor defending to shoot past Conkie reducing 1874’s advantage to a single goal to set up a nervy ending to the game. Conkie did well to palm away an 80th minute corner from under the cross bar before man of the match Beadle sealed the win in the 86th minute meeting a cross with a firm header to score his second goal of the game.

1874 – Conkie, Connor, Duckworth, McGrath, Mitchell, Chappell, Woolley, Gill (Wellstead 75mins), Brandon, Beadle, Tandy. Subs not used – Stewart, Crofts, Aston, Bowyer.

MAINE ROAD – Livesey, Thorpe, Flynn, Shenton, Tinker, Gallenders (Settle 75mins), Morgan (Hughes 62mins), Breslin, Harper, Salmon (Roe 62mins), Williams. Sub not used McKeown.

GOALS 1874 – Beadle 56p, 86 Chappell 54 Brandon 72 MAINE ROAD – Salmon 24, Williams 75.

Attendance 320 Referee Peter Gooch

Sponsors Man of the Match selected by the SANDS FAMILY – Matt Beadle