1874 Northwich vs Glossop North End

Recap

1874 NORTHWICH FC 1 v 0 GLOSSOP NORTH END

1874 Northwich were back in League action just fifty hours after their memorable FA Vase win at Bishop Auckland on Sunday and whilst their preparation for such an important game was far from ideal the performance that was produced at the Barton Stadium was just as impressive as their FA Vase win had been. Ian Street had no hesitation in announcing an unchanged starting line up for this potentially difficult encounter with one of the top teams in the North West Counties Football League
Although there had been little rain during the day, some light showers arrived towards half time and continued into the second half and this certainly didn’t help both sets of players in their attempts to play good fast-flowing football.

However, the large crowd were treated to a most enjoyable ninety minutes during which many chances were made but the points were won by a single goal from 1874’s top marksman – Matthew Beadle.

At the start of proceedings both sides had only previously lost one league game so far this season and a close game was expected and so it proved.

The first chance of the game fell to the visitors when a long punt from defence found their top scorer Tom Bailey and he raced towards the penalty area to shoot but an excellent block by Bayley averted any real danger.

Then on 12 minutes 1874 had their first half chance after good work by Beadle set up Tandy on the left but he dragged his effort wide of the target. Almost immediately play switched again very quickly towards the 1874 goal and once again a good block by a defender prevented Lugsden on this occasion from troubling Matt Conkie.

Five minutes later and some intricate play involving Woolley, Tandy and Ward ended with Duckworth’s effort missing the target by some distance.

Several minutes later and after more good work from Ward, Beadle shot just wide of the target.

The game was opening up with both sides attempting to attack quickly and menacingly and it was certainly a contest being welcomed by supporters from both teams.
The best chance of the half so far fell to Glossop and ironically it came about after a promising 1874 move broke down 30 yards from Glossop’s goal. The ball was quickly played into space in 1874’s half and it needed another good block to prevent Bailey’s shot from troubling Conkie. From the resultant corner, Glossop’s captain Young headed the ball over the bar. Shortly afterwards Bailey worked the ball well to provide Moran with an opening but his shot was saved easily by the alert Conkie.

Ten minutes before half time and it was 1874’s turn to put a good move together involving Beadle and Ward before Tandy with another fine cross into the box was inch perfect for the marauding Mitchell and his header went wide of the target. Two minutes later and Ward produced another piece of his magic to allow him to deliver a cross beyond the keeper to his far post and as Tandy waited for his opportunity a defender managed to head the ball back to his keeper although for a moment it looked as though an own goal might have been the first goal of the evening!

The final action of an entertaining first half saw Duckworth diffuse an attack by Glossop as he headed the threatening ball away from his goal area and it was collected by Chapell who quickly advanced forward before delivering a peach of a chip into the box but Wellstead’s good header was just too high and went over the bar. H-T 0-0

In the second half it was Glossop who had the first real effort but Lugsden’s long range effort was comfortably dealt with by Conkie. Just on the hour mark it was the turn of the hard-working Lee Jones to come to his side’s rescue with some more outstanding defensive work as he firstly made a great tackle and from the resultant corner he was first to the ball with his powerful headed clearance

Moran once again tested Conkie with a snap shot but the 1874 reliable Number One was as alert as ever to keep his goal intact.

The work and effort being put in by both sides ensured that the game was a real spectacle for the 383 attendance and whilst Glossop may have had the better chances in the first 45 minutes the second half certainly belonged to 1874 – possession and chance wise but the visitors certainly remained a threat throughout.

In the 72nd minute the ex-Glossop player Neil Chappell – made another brilliant ball-winning tackle in midfield and then found Mitchell – once again in an advanced position – and his effort from 35 yards flashed narrowly wide of the post. Then two minutes later and Chappell crossed again into the box and it was Mitchell as the recipient but his header was straight at the keeper.

But it was certainly not all one way traffic and moments later Glossop nearly scored. A deep cross from the right went over Conkie near his back post and fell to substitute Grimshaw but he was slightly unsighted and the ball in effect hit him on the leg and went narrowly wide of the 1874 goal.

Then in the 78th minute the goal that the game deserved finally arrived and it was 1874 that scored it! Jones and Chappell worked the ball out to substitute Daley Woods on the right who controlled it, beat his marker and then found Beadle in the box. The striker pirouetted before hitting a sweet left foot shot past the helpless Hall in the Glossop goal.
It was Beadles twentieth goal of the season and only the ninth goal conceded by Glossop in their 21 league games this season.

In the final minutes of the game both sides had half chances to score but when conclusion came after 8 minutes of added time “the job had been done for 1874” and they had maintained their excellent unbeaten run of games (now standing at nineteen!) and moved back into third place in the league table.

So despite the ordeal of a very difficult Cup game on Sunday the 1874 lads had shown their ability and determination to keep their remarkable run of success going and every single one of them put in a magnificent shift on the day and wow how much that effort was appreciated by their Manager and their supporters!

Team: Conkie; Mitchell; Duckworth; Bayley; Woolley; Chappell; Wellstead; Jones; Beadle; Ward and Tandy. Subs: Woods replaced Wellstead; Brandon replaced Beadle. Unused: Gill and Short
Attendance 383 Referee: Alan Bennett