1874 Northwich vs Chadderton

Recap

1874 NORTHWICH FC 3 V 0 CHADDERTON FC

1874 came into this game on the back of four straight wins and four clean sheets and were clearly looking to continue this impressive run.

An early kick off time didn’t seem to matter to 1874 as they took the lead in the very first minute and it was no surprise that the goalscorer was Michael Brandon who reacted quickly to Ward’s effort on goal which had rebounded off a post. This was the ninth successive game in which the striker had scored.

The excellent start and high tempo of the game continued from 1874 as the visitors struggled to contain the continued attacks by the home side and after Bailey and Ward had both gone close the second goal arrived in the 26th minute and it was one to savour as Jones fed the ball out to Woods on the right and then watched with everyone else as Woods went on a mazy, speedy run before finding the net with a low shot into the corner – and this was his third foal in as many games.

Two nil is always a nice lead to have in any game but it is also a situation that if the opposing side do score a goal then it is “game-on” again and this very nearly happened when the Chadderton wide man did well on the right flank and fired in a rasping drive but Matt Conkie in the home goal was equal to it and pulled off a fine save to maintain the two goal cushion.

As the game entered its’ last quarter the visitors were tiring and 1874’s supporters were urging their side on to more goals and in the 74th minute the third goal arrived and it did so with a slight comical element about it. Matty Ward picked up the ball in the final third and whilst evading a tackle he lost one of his boots but he continued on his run towards the 18 yard box and then slotted the ball home from 10 yards with aplomb (and with his bootless foot!).

Then in the final few minutes the supporters very nearly had another brilliant goal to acknowledge but this time when the lively Woods cut in from the left his curling shot beat the keeper but rebounded off the bar.

So the runs continue as this was the 5th win on the trot and the 5th clean sheet and Matty Ward was also named man of the match for the 3rd game on the trot.

1 Matt Conkie 2 Ryan Mitchell 3 Ryan Stewart 4 Craig Farnworth 5 Danny Thomas

6 Rick Bailey 7 Daley Woods 8 Lee Jones (Capt) 9 Mike Brandon 10 Matty Ward and 11 Dean McGregor

Steve Crane (replaced McGregor 74)

Attendance 275