Lostock Gralam vs 1874 Northwich

Recap

LOSTOCK GRALAM 2 – 5 1874 NORTHWICH PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY 9TH JULY 2014

1874 Northwich kicked off their second pre-season campaign in familiar surroundings as they returned to the Park Stadium home of Lostock Gralam, where they played their first ever game a year ago.

With five players making their first appearance for the club 1874 were determined not to be caught cold as they were 12 months ago and dominated the opening stanza going close to scoring and forcing several corners in the opening minutes.

However, they did need assistance from their Cheshire League hosts to open the scoring. Latching onto a long diagonal ball, Ryan Stewart whipped across into the six yard box from the right wing, as new signing Andy Hurst tried to force the ball over the line, in a goal mouth scramble a Lostock defender cleared the ball off the line only to see it rebound off a team mate, Ryan Millington, into the net. 1874 doubled their advantage in the 25th minute when debutant Paul Connor drilled a shot through a packed penalty area into the bottom corner of the net.

As the first half progressed Lostock started to find their feet, twice hitting the woodwork before 1874 scored their third direct from a corner just before half time. Daley Woods swung the ball in from the right hand side corner flag striking the inside of the far goal post, whereas Lostock’s two efforts bounced away from goal, the ball dropped into the net.

In the opening stages of the second half 1874 went close to increasing their tally several times, but the home side were next on the score sheet. Sam Wakefield, who scored the first ever goal in an 1874 game last year, raced onto a long ball to calmly shoot past James Fossdyke in the 72nd minute. 1874’s new goalkeeper was a central figure in Lostock’s second goal six minutes later when under pressure from an oncoming attacker and a defender, possibly too close to play a back pass, he picked up the ball last played by a colleague. From an indirect free kick 12 yards out, the ball was rolled to Dev Griffin who blasted the ball past the masked ranks of the white shirted defenders charging at the ball.

Any hopes Lostock had a snatching a draw from an entertaining game which provided both teams with a good first work out ahead of the new season were extinguished by two late goals. Matt Woolley unleashed a long range shot which flew past Lostock keeper Aaron Morrison, who was also beaten by a Danny Thomas header from a corner.

1874 – Fossdyke, Hamer, Trialist, Murphy, Broadhead, Woolley, Connor, Abdullah, Hurst, Short, Stewart – Subs used Thomas, Woods, Aston.

Goals – 1874 – Millington (OG) 14, Connor 25, Woods 43, Woolley 80, Thomas 86.

Lostock – Wakefield 72, Griffin 78.

Attendance – 255