Bootle vs 1874 Northwich

Recap

1874 GO DOWN TO FIRST DEFEAT AT BOOTLE

BOOTLE 2-0 1874 NORTHWICH                     HSL PREMIER              2^NDMARCH 2019

1874 Northwich’s three game unbeaten run came to a disappointing end as Bootle extended their HSL Premier Division winning run to twelve games. Not having dropped a league point since mid November, second paced Bootle struck twice in the first half to claim the spoils and record their first ever home win against 1874.

A scrappy opening saw both teams struggle to adapt to the conditions with a strong wind gusting diagonally across a bumpy pitch.

In the opening exchanges Bootle goalkeeper Ryan Jones turned a dangerous cross from Mike Koral over his bar, while Carl Peers blazed a shot high over 1874’s bar.

Koral combined with Sam Hare in the 28^th minute to set up Scott McGowan whose shot was blocked by Jones. Clearing the resultant corner, Bootle broke down the right wing; Kieran Halligan delivered a cross into the 1874 penalty area where Steven Jones smashed the ball into the net from eight yards.

From the re-start Taylor Kennerley raced down the left wing, cutting inside he rifled a shot into the side netting from a tight angle.

Bootle forced the ball into 1874’s net on the half hour mark from a corner, but the goal did not stand as the referee spotted a foul on goalkeeper Tony Aghayere.

In the 34^th minute 1874 were awarded a free kick on the edge of Bootle’s area. McGowan drove the free kick under a jumping defensive wall; Ryan Jones saved well but pushed the ball into the path of Matt Woolley who hit the rebound into the side netting.

Moments later Matt Russell swung in a cross from the right which found Hare whose goal bound shot struck Bootle defender Dan Murphy and flew behind for a corner.

Throughout the game 1874 enjoyed the greater share of possession as the home side was content to let their visitors pass the ball around at the back, and keeping their disciplined shape they picked off passes as 1874 tried to move forward and hit on the break.

Bootle scored their second goal in the 40^th minute. Intercepting a wayward pass in the middle of the pitch they broke down the right from where another Halligan cross found Peers who swept the ball home.

The second half started with Aghayere diving to his left to keep out a shot from Michael Carberry.

Referee Anthony Ball disallowed a 1874 “goal” in the 60^th minute when one of his assistants flagged McGowan offside as Jack Irlam headed home from a Kennerley cross following a corner.

With 1874 committing more men forward in search of a way back into the game they left extra space at the back for Bootle to counterattack.

In the 88^th minute Bootle cleared a corner with a long ball downfield leaving Peers one on one with Aghayere. The Bootle man slipped the ball past the keeper, hitting the post the ball rebounded back to Peers who with an empty goal at his mercy screwed his follow up shot wide.  A minute later, Peers won the ball on the edge of 1874’s area and smashed a shot against the bar.

BOOTLE – R Jones, Halligan, Carberry, Murphy, Cartright, Millington, Clark, S Jones (Kori-Butler 65 – Hughes 90), Peers, Cox (Foy 58). Subs not used McGowan, Hoy.

1874 – Aghayere, Russell, Tinning (Hind ht), Pritchard, Jones, Irlam (Gardner 70), Koral, M Woolley, McGowan, Hare, Kennerley. Subs not used Meadowcroft, Waite-Jackson, Ormrod.

GOALS – Bootle S Jones 29, Peers 40

ATTENDANCE 245                               REFEREE A Ball