1874 Northwich vs Congleton Town

Recap

1874 NORTHWICH 2 V 0 CONGLETON TOWN

Two second half goals from Man of the Match Neil Chappell were enough to secure all three points and register a double win over Mid Cheshire neighbours Congleton Town at the Barton Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Manager Ian Street, made two changes to the side that started the weekend game at Squires Gate with Lomas and Brandon both returning to the fold following their unavailability on Saturday.

The opening forty five minutes were nothing special as both sides strived to gain the initiative and with fierce competition in the midfield areas it meant that on a good few occasions the long ball option was the order of the day.

In the 10th minutes some sloppy defending by 1874 allowed Scott McGowan an opportunity to test Conkie in the home goal but the effort was off target. The first corner of the game came after 22 minutes and although Lomas was first to meet the cross his effort on goal was easily saved.

The next piece of meaningful action was not until the half hour mark when McGowan did well, when having received the ball some 35 yards out from goal, he quickly advanced towards the 1874 penalty area but the close attention of two home defenders was sufficient to restrict the strikers attempt at goal and as a result Conkie again saved easily

Gradually, 1874 started to come more into the game thanks to the prompting of Woolley, Ward and Chappell but a clear chance couldn’t really be carved out and as a result it was only long range shots that were seen. Just before the interval Brandon was fouled in the left corner and from the excellent free kick into the penalty 1874 seemed to have a few chances to open the scoring but the right touch couldn’t be applied.

Quickly after the restart 1874 seemed to be much livelier and a pin-point 30-yard cross from Connor was brilliantly controlled by Brandon but his effort on goal was again just wide of the target. However, just two minutes later the deadlock was broken with a good bit of control and an eye for goal by Chappell but it also has to be said aided by a bit of poor defending by Congleton defender. The alert Connor took a quick free kick which allowed Chappell to run at the fullback which he did at pace and then stopped the ball on the line before being allowed to run on towards the goal before hitting a low shot into the opposite corner of the goal for his sixth goal of the season.

Six minutes later in the 54th minute and Congleton should have been level but after McGowan’ shot from 25 yards is saved by Conkie the ball rebounded to Smith but he shot wildly over the bar from five yards out when it looked far easier to have scored!

The game had now started to open up more as both sides searched for the all important second goal of the game Brandon headed wide following a good cross from Ledwards whilst at the other end a good free kick from Sephton went narrowly wide of the target.

But in the 72nd minute much to the delight of the strong home following the second goal of the game was scored by 1874 and it was Chappell again who was the scorer – this time driving the ball home from ten yards following a good move involving Ward, Ledwards, Brandon and Beadle.

The visitors didn’t stop trying for the goal that could have brought them back into the game but on the night they didn’t appear to have their shooting boots with them and 1874 saw the game out comfortably in the end.

Team: Conkie; Connor; Lomas; Mitchell; Thomas; Chappell; Matt Woolley; Beadle; Brandon; Ward and Ledwards .

Substitutes: Lunn (replaced Brandon 78 minutes). Unused: Wellstead; Joe Woolley Bayley & Stewart.

Man of the match as named by Match Sponsor Alan Andrews was Neil Chappell

Referee: Andrew Cawtherley

Attendance: 289