Squires Gate vs 1874 Northwich

Recap

SEASIDE STROLL IN THE SUN

By Garry Clarke
SQUIRES GATE 0-3 1874 NORTHWICH HSL PREMIER 5TH MAY 2018

1874 Northwich returned from their day trip to the seaside with all three points, but the victory was not as comfortable as the score line suggests.
1874, who completed a league double over their opponents, were made to work for their win by a Squires Gate side who had lost just once in their previous eleven games, and that at the hands of champions Runcorn Linnets.

Having enjoyed a day’s rest in their hectic schedule, 1874 started brightly with Sam Freakes, Kyle Riley and Ryan Mitchell all having goal bound efforts foiled by Gate keeper Ben Fletcher in the opening twenty minutes.

1874 had an early penalty appeal for hand ball turned down by referee Craig Buxton, officiating his last game before retirement, while Ryan Jackson and Scott McGowan were both off target from free kicks and Paul Connor headed narrowly wide.

The home side came more into the game as the half progressed with Darren Ing shooting over the bar while Tarren Moxon and Ryan Riley shot wide and Greg Hall pulled off a good save to deny Ing after he had swooped on an under hit back pass.

1874 had taken the lead in the 33rd minute when a Jack Pritchard free kick found Hind in a packed Gate area; working an opening he fired the ball under Fletcher.
Moments before half time running onto a Jackson pass Riley powered his way into the Gate area, unselfishly he squared the ball which just evaded Hind.

The second half started with play switching from end to end, in the opening minutes Jack Lever lofted the ball over the Gate bar, while Gary Pott’s shot went just wide of 1874’s goal and Scott Harries drew a fine save from Hall before Hind settled 1874’s nerves with a second goal in the 55th minute. Nipping in between a defender and Fletcher he steered a powerful header into the bottom corner of the net.

In the 75th minute Hall pulled off a remarkable double save to deny Pott and Moxon as chances went begging at both ends of the pitch before Jake Parker brought an entertaining game to a close with 1874’s third goal two minutes into stoppage time netting from close range after a good run and cross from Shelton Payne set him up.

SQUIRES – Fletcher, Richards (Finlayson 65), Salthouse, Moxon, Colquhoun, Bamba, Riley, Ing, Pott, Harries, Clarkson. Subs not used Rothwell, Pope, O’Mahoney, Moorhead.
1874 – Hall, Connor, Thomas, Pritchard, Mitchell (Lever 21), Freakes, R. Jackson (Payne 75), M Woolley (Parker 62), Riley, McGowan, Hind Subs not used: Bowyer, Winthrop.

GOALS 1874: Hind 33 & 55 Parker 90+2
ATTENDANCE 157 REFEREE C BUXTON