Cheadle Town vs 1874 Northwich

Recap

TEN men 1874 Northwich secured a well-earned draw at Cheadle after a superb solo effort from Adam Foy.
The midfielder struck a perfect 25 yard strike low into the bottom corner in meeting Ryan Mitchell’s centre 15 minutes from time.

Before this moment of magic, the home side had recovered from falling behind to an early Mike Brandon goal to lead 2-1.
The game was not without its controversy when deep into the first half 1874 new signing Stuart Wellstead was shown a red card after being adjudged to have gone in with two fee in a challenge with Luke Pearson.

Former Northwich Victoria player Wellstead proved instrumental before his sending-off and it was his free kick that helped put 1874 in front.

Struck low through the Cheadle wall from the edge of the box, Brandon applied a touch to help the ball into the net past Stephen Piggott in the Cheadle goal on 12 minutes.

The away side deserved this lead after a bright start which saw them create a number of chances – helped by the goal kicking of Matt Conkie, back in the side for Adam Leake.

It was one such goal kick that provided 1874 with a golden chance to take the lead, if only Dean McGregor had applied a better finish to a Brandon flick-on which left him with a path to goal.

Another near miss saw Brandon head narrowly pass the post in connecting with a curling Wellstead delivery into the box.

Wellstead continued to make an impact throughout the half, with his pace and vision allowing the midfield to connect with the forwards as 1874 stretched Cheadle with some patient passing football.

One such breakaway saw Wellstead charge forward and hit a powerful shot which forced Piggott to parry away and collect just as McGregor and Brandon approached.

A minute later, 1874 had a chance to double their lead again – Wellstead the provider once more with a lovely cross field pass which found the feet of Lee Hendley on the right who managed to turn past his marker into the box, only to see Jason Halley block at the last minute.

Then came the red card during a period when 1874 were enjoying such dominance, a dismissal that left the 1874 faithful with mixed feelings at the half-time break.

Inevitably, 1874 manager Ian Street made a change during the interval with Dave Tickle slotting in at left-back in place of the more attacking Hendley.

The more defensive approach and sending-off seemed to inspire Cheadle into putting a foothold into the game.
The early pressure told when Conkie misjudged a loose ball that came into his box, allowing forward Carl Sutton to head over him into the back of the net for a Cheadle equaliser on 50 minutes.

However, Conkie soon made up for his mistake when he made a fine double save when Sutton had looked destined to give Cheadle the lead.

Cutting inside from the wing past Tickle, Satten produced a powerful low shot that was pushed away by Conkie but straight into the path of wide man Sherringham, whose follow-up effort from inside the box was superbly tipped over the bar by Conkie.

The home side continued to dominate, overrunning 1874 in the midfield, and another opening saw Sherringham skip past Thomas and produce a low cross that was struck narrowly over the crossbar by Paul Walley.

But the pressure finally proved too much for 1874 when Cheadle took a deserved lead after Pearson had crossed from the left-hand-side, leaving Daniel Brokenbrow to slot home a low shot into the bottom corner on 73 minutes.

At this point, there seemed no way back for an 1874 side that had lost the momentum they had in the first period.
Not to worry, Foy was to turn hero and save the day with a brilliant effort – one that inspired 1874 to a battling end to the game that could have easily seen them snatch a win.

As it turned out, Cheadle had the best chance to snatch the game when a low Sherringham cross had to be diverted out for a corner by Duckworth to stop substitute James Horan from aiming at the target.

This signalled the end of an entertaining match in which both sides fought competitively and passionately for its duration.

Next up for 1874 is a home game against Rochdale Town; kick-off 3pm on Saturday 24 August.

Cheadle: Piggott (GK), Heath, Pearson, Halley (Dunn 69), Brooks, Walley, Connolly, Trucca, Sutton (Jones (69), Brokenbrow, Sherringham

Substitutes: Horan, Jones, Dunn, Westmerland, Rhodes
Goals: Sutton (50), Brokenbrow (73)
Booked: Trucca (y 39)
1874 Northwich: Conkie (GK), Mitchell, Stewart (Shannon 85), Thomas, Duckworth, Foy, Hendley (Tickle 45), Jones, Brandon, Wellstead, McGregor (Crane 77)

Substitutes: Crane, Leake, Shannon, Tickle, Bowyer
Goals: Brandon (12), Foy (75)
Sent off: Wellstead (39)
Attendance: 226