Burscough vs 1874 Northwich

Recap

WHITLOCK CORNERS THE POINTS
By Garry Clarke

BURSCOUGH 0-1 1874 NORTHWICH HSL PREMIER 12TH AUGUST 2017

A 63rd minute goal direct from a corner was enough for 1874 Northwich to open their Hallmark Security League campaign with a win.

“It was not pretty, but its three points away from home on a poor pitch against a team which would have been happy with a draw” said co manager Wayne Goodison after his side had defeated a Burscough team relegated from the Evostik League at the end of last season.

1874 enjoyed the better of an open game on a bumpy pitch in which there few clear cut goal scoring opportunities. With a strong wind gusting down the pitch both sides struggled to adapt to the blustery conditions, and were both at their best when playing on the deck.

1874 forced a corner in the opening minute following a strong run down the left flank by Taylor Kennerley. Kazim Waite-Jackson whipped the corner into the penalty area where it looped off an 1874 player and cleared the bar by a matter of inches.

Mid-way through the first half the ever dangerous Kennerley combined with Lee Jackson to set up Sam Hind whose shot was blocked allowing Burscough to break away. Jake Connelly lofted the ball over Greg Hall on the edge of the area, but Danny Meadowcroft was on hand to clear.

On the half hour mark Scott McGowan met a Jack Lever cross with a shot on the turn which Burscough keeper Louis McCarthy did well to save. The Burscough No.1 was called into action again ten minutes later pouncing on an Adam Whitlock free kick which found its way through a packed penalty area.

Four minutes into the second half McCarthy pulled off a brilliant one handed reaction save to keep out a Whitlock shot from close range following a run and cross from Jackson. A few minutes later Hall produced an equally good flying save to deny Christy Devlin.

The decisive moment in the game arrived in the 63rd minute, Whitlock floated a corner kick from the right into a congested goalmouth, McCarthy was unable to deal with the wind assisted delivery as the ball nestled in the back of the net.

The home side tried to push forward in search of an equaliser but never seriously threatened 1874’s goal. If anyone was going to score it would be 1874, Whitlock pulled a shot across goal and McGowan drew a good save from McCarthy as the hosts, having already used their three substitutes, played out the closing minutes with just nine men as injuries forced Adam Gilchrist and Hafeez Hamzat to the sidelines.

As the game drew to a close Kennerley and Jackson combined on the left, Jackson’s cross found McGowan unmarked in the six yard box, with the goal at his mercy the ball took a wicked bounce and ballooned off his leg and over the bar.

BURSCOUGH – McCarthy, Cheetham, O’Brien, Szanto, Hamzat, Hulme, Connelly (Cummings 75), Devlin, Gilchrist, Hennerty (Diggle 63), Clark (Threkeld 61). Subs not used Hatton, Conaghan.

1874 – Hall, Lever, L Jackson, Pritchard, Medowcroft, Waite-Jackson (Riley 55), Whitlock, M Woolley, McGowan, Hind, Kennerley. Subs not used Clayton, Woods, Beadle, Spencer.

GOAL Whitlock 63

ATTENDANCE 175 REFEREE I Walsh