Lancaster City vs 1874 Northwich

Recap

Lancaster City 1-0 1874 Northwich: FA Cup dream cut short at the Giant Axe.
By Jack Owen

1874’s dreams of a run in the FA Cup were cut short as higher ranked Lancaster City eased to victory courtesy of a second half winner.

The games opening exchanges set the tone for what was to come in the first half, it being end to end from both sides, with each managing to get shots away early on. Joe Woolley’s curled effort cutting in from the left flank found the boot of Lancaster captain Glenn Steele who cleared well.

Down the other end, Aghayere was called in to action when Rhys Turner for the home side forced him into a routine catch from a long range effort.

A huge chance then went the way of Lancaster around the 20 minute mark when a nasty bobble deceived Jack Marrow and allowed Thomas Kilifin a free shot on goal. However, Tony Aghayere is in sensational form and he was down brilliantly to turn the powerful effort wide of the post for a corner.

‘74 responded and created chances of their own. One attack resulting in a corner delivered by Sam Hare that caused mayhem in the City box. Captain Matt Woolley reacted quickest, but was only able to hook his effort over the cross bar.

Lancaster started the second half well and were in control when they took the lead on the 62nd minute. Rhys Turner picked up the ball deep inside the ‘74 half, he drove towards our goal and hit a powerful low effort which Aghayere could only parry as far as Kilifin who mopped up to slide the ball home.

‘74 now had it all to do with the hosts in control at this point. But after a period of sustained pressure and with the hosts seemingly happy to let the away side push on, it was ‘74 who had the next big chance in the dying minutes; Matt Russell drove down the left on the wing, his cross towards the back post found Ryan Jackson unmarked. Unfortunately for the Greens, his header dropped just wide of the post to the relief of Lancaster stopper Alexander.

74 mustered one final chance late on, Russell again was creating down the left, his cross after a quick exchange of passed with Jack Irlam found Scott McGowan who peeled off Steele in the middle, his header though was tame and went wide of the post.

Referee Liam Corrigan blew the full time whistle and marked the end of the FA Cup journey for this season. A spirited effort from 74’ but higher ranked Lancaster just had enough to see the game out.

Lancaster City – Alexander, C Bailey (S Bailey), Brockbank, Fensome, Steel, Anderson, Dawson, Elewa-ikpakwu (Sloan), Kilifin (Darley), Turner, Wilson.
Subs not used: Graham, WIlliams, Hogarth.