Silsden vs 1874 Northwich

Recap

1874 NORTHWICH extended their unbeaten run of games to fifteen with this hard earned victory at Silsden on Saturday.

The starting line up saw two changes from their midweek game at Bootle with Daley Woods and Mike Brandon “swapping places” with Paul Connor and Matt Beadle.

The hosts started the game well and had the first chance on five minutes when their centre half Fagan found himself unmarked at the back post from a corner, but his strong header was directed straight at Conkie and easily dealt with. This was the case with the next chance of the game, when Conkie turned a shot from Zack Dale round the post at the expense of another corner.

1874 had to wait for the quarter-hour mark before their first real threat of the afternoon and this was as a result of Tandy’s well-delivered corner being palmed away to safety by goal keeper Thorpe.

Silsden were taking the game to 1874 and looked as though they might open the scoring with their constant attacks but Mitchell and Thomas held firm in the 1874 rearguard although Silsden did come close to scoring in the 25th minute when Nicholls picked up a loose ball 20 yards from goal but his shot from a good position was well off target.

Gradually, 1874’s strong midfield started to get a grip on the game with Chappell, Woolley and Ward pulling all the strings and it was no surprise when 1874 opened the scoring in the 32nd minute and what a goal it was! Brandon and Duckworth combined well on the left flank before the latter crossed into the box for Woods to head the ball backwards into the path of the well-positioned Ward who needed no second invitation to whack the ball home from 20 yards for a delightful goal – his eighth of the season.

A second goal may have been added very soon afterwards when Danny Thomas broke up an attack and then found Brandon with an excellent ball forwards only for the striker to see his shot parried away to safety by the busy Thorpe.

Then just before half time the equaliser almost arrived when centre half Fagan, supporting his attackers again received the ball in space and with plenty of time but his effort was a poor one and the ball went wide of the target

Ward and Brandon combined on two occasions to create chances but the first one was easily saved whilst the second one – a well hit strike from Tandy went for a corner.

Just on the hour mark Matty Ward once again demonstrated his skills as he brilliantly and nonchalantly controlled a difficult ball to him and then proceeded to beat three opponents in a mazy run before finding Woods out wide but unfortunately, Woods couldn’t manage to get a shot in when well placed.

Even though 1874 have a most enviable reputation for the habit of keeping clean sheets it did feel that a second goal would be “useful” in the quest for all three of the points on offer and this fact was nearly confirmed when Craig Nichols once again came close to scoring an equaliser for Silsden but his shot was again wide of the far post. Then 1874 had to thank Ryan Mitchell for another last-ditch tackle to keep his side’s narrow lead.

With twenty minutes remaining Beadle replaced the hard-working Brandon up front for 1874 but just a few minutes later and the action was at the “wrong end” of the field as far 1874 supporters were concerned but once again it was the reliable Mitchell who came to the rescue with a strong headed clearance.

However on 79 minutes the second goal arrived and almost inevitably the build up had to involve Matty Ward once more as he collected the ball in midfield showing excellent control before finding Beadle with an inch-perfect pass to the edge of the area which allowed Beadle to turn the challenging defender inside out before picking his spot to score his 17th goal of the season.

Silsden were never going to come back from a two goal deficit and so it proved as 1874 comfortably saw out the remaining minutes with the only disappointment being the dismissal of their centre back Kevin McGrath, having received two yellow cards

So a good all round display from 1874 which would have pleased their manager and supporters. There were many good performances but Danny Thomas and Matty Ward stood out

1874 Team: Conkie; Mitchell; Duckworth: McGrath; Thomas; Woods; Chappell; Woolley; Ward; Brandon and Tandy. Subs: Beadle for Brandon; Connor for Woods and Stewart for Tandy – unused subs: Jones and Short

Goals: Ward (32) and Beadle (79) Attendance 323 – Referee: Ian Johnston