City of Liverpool vs 1874 Northwich

1874 Northwich had to wait 3 weeks until they faced the Purps in back-to-back games, but unlike the first meeting in the FA Trophy, it was 74 who came out on top in the most dramatic of circumstances.

1874 made a number of enforced changes, the most notable being a change in shape which saw Captain Matt Woolley drop in to the back line and Jason Akiotu come in at left wing back.

1874 started brightly, the energetic midfield of Fenton Green, Lucas Weir and Sam Adetiloye were making all of the running, the latter with powerful drives at the back line of the hosts.

The games opener came from a moment of magic by Lucas Weir, from a freekick around 25 yards out he struck a perfect shot which dipped over the wall and in to the bottom left corner of the goal.

Northwich continued to control the first half and could have had a second, Fenton Green slid a low effort which curled on to the post and deflected along the goal line until it was cleared away.

The second half was a different story, as the hosts brought the game to 74.

Ellis Allen had to react smartly with a neat save low down to deny Schorah from inside the area.

The Purps were awarded a penalty, after Mullarkey tripped their winger, Callum Schorah stepped up but Ellis Allen was equal lunging down to his right to produce a great save to keep 74 ahead.

 Jewad Jebrin equalised for CoL, a neat finish from the edge of the area in to the bottom right corner of Allen’s goal drew the home side level.

It was all the hosts now with Allen in inspired form between the sticks keeping us in the tie and Matty Fenton producing some goal saving blocks in the process.

A huge let off came in the 9th minute of added time, Danny Mitchely somehow diverted a cross over the bar from 6 yards with the goal at his mercy.

However, there was to be one last twist to the game. In the 100th minute, Jamal Crawford broke away down the right, he saw Lucas Weir ahead of him, a neat pass round the corner set the midfielder away, his cut back was parried back in to the box only as far as Eric Byrne, who showed composure way ahead of his years with a neat left footed finish in to the bottom right corner to send the traveling fans in to jubilation behind the goal.

 The full-time whistle sounded, a proper away performance and a well earned 3 points went home to Northwich, setting us up nicely for the back-to-back home games this week.