Burscough vs 1874 Northwich

Recap

SKIPPER WOOLLEY NETS LATE DESERVED EQUALISER

BURSCOUGH   1 – 1 1874 NORTHWICH 

HSL PREMIER     6^TH OCTOBER 2018

This latest fixture for 1874 was actually the third time that the two sides have met this season as two FA Cup ties took place earlier in August with Burscough eventually wining the tie after a penalty shootout and so a close affair was to be expected this time around and so it proved.

1874 welcomed back Mark Jones and skipper Matt Woolley after their recent absences and as a result the back four and midfield looked more solid than had been the case in recent games whilst McGowan and Riley started the game together up front but try as they may the pair couldn’t quite get the all-important opening goal.

As was the case previously the playing surface was quite poor in places and this inevitably restricted both sides  ability to play good football at times but nevertheless the crowd were treated to an exciting game with the result always in doubt until the final whistle.

Both goalkeepers were called into action early in the game and both were equal to the challenge as they made good saves and showed good handling skills.

As the half progressed it seemed very likely that whichever side scored first would probably secure all the points and although both sides did try to be creative the keepers didn’t really have too many saves to make and the opening goal of the game was a surprise to most as out of nothing Burscough’s Chad White found himself with the opportunity to score and he did this quite comfortably in the 42nd minute to give his side a half-time lead.

In the second half the pattern of play was very much the same as the first with both sides having half chances but rarely threatening the respective keepers although Riley was unlucky when he saw his instinctive header go narrowly wide of the target.

Burscough continued to search for the all-important second goal and to be fair they did this throughout the whole of the second half whilst 1874 having a greater share of possession pushed relentlessly forward in search of their much needed goal.

To the delight of the 1874 supporters the equaliser did arrive in the 89th minute when skipper Matt Woolley controlled the ball from a corned and swivelled quickly to slot the ball home for a share of the spoils.

1874: Coates; Connor; Russell; Pritchard; Jones; Irlam; Joe Woolley; Matt Woolley; Riley; McGowan & Kennerley. Subs: Gardner & Waite-Jackson. Unused Subs: Tucker; Clayton & Stevenson

Attendance: 104