AFC Darwen vs 1874 Northwich

Recap

“DANNY’S” NET ALL THREE IN COMFORTABLE WIN

AFC DARWEN 0-3 1874 NORTHWICH

HSL PREMIER DIVISION – 9TH APRIL 2018

1874 made it three wins on the trot with this comfortable win at Darwen on Monday evening.

Understandably the management duo had to “ring the changes” re the starting line-up and this they did by resting the centre back partnership of Mitchell and Pritchard so allowing Danny Thomas and Danny Meadowcroft to start the game at the heart of the 1874 defence whilst Scott McGowan was also “rested” and this allowed Kyle Riley to start the game leading the attack.

1874 were quick out of the blocks and took the game to their hosts creating several good chances in the opening quarter but the home keeper was able to deal with the efforts on goal until 1874 took the lead in the 16th minute when the keeper could very reasonably have expected more help from his defenders who failed on several occasions to clear the ball before Meadowcroft opened the scoring by volleying the ball home from inside the penalty area for his third goal of the season and just three minutes later his team mate Thomas added a second goal – his first of the season – when, as with the first goal of the game this was also, scored from inside a packed area

HT: 0-2

After the interval the home side obviously had to score as soon as possible to get back into the game but they came up against a well-drilled 1874 defence of Connor; Thomas; Meadowcroft and Russell as well as their “ever alert” keeper Greg Hall who was called upon to deal with a good few attacks from the opposition as well as the only error on the night from Thomas who lost the ball 30 yards from goal and was relieved to see Hall deal with the threat on goal.

1874 continued to press forward in search of another goal and their pace on both flanks was causing problems for the home defence. A much-welcomed third goal arrived in the 71st minute when Thomas scored again following good approach work by |Riley and Foran.

Whilst the three points were now firmly “in the bag” 1874 continued to push forward at every opportunity and Riley came close on two occasions to net a goal that his work rate on the night certainly merited.

1874: Hall; Connor; Russell; Thomas; Meadowcroft; Jones (sub Freakes 35); Hind (sub Fallon 74) : Matt Woolley (Capt); Riley; Kazim-Jackson; & Kennerley (sub Woods 65). Unused subs: Lever & Jack Woolley

Referee: Carl Rooney Attendance: 83