TIVIDALE FC 1-3 1874 NORTHWICH: THE INDEPENDENT REPORT + SCREENSHOTS...

 1874 Finally Come Alive At The Beeches…

Tividale FC 1-3 1874 Northwich

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

Having found a quiet place from which to film the game, I was soon joined by the 1874 crew of supporters, who hung flags, smoked a bit, drank some beer and bellowed unrelenting support for their team and at a referee who they thought ought to have been in school, or in the house doing his homework. Home right-back Tom Rann also became the target for some choice ‘advice’, all in good fun of course….

The opening half was quite poor, rather scrappy and bereft of any real goalmouth action, bar a low near post effort by Tivi’s lively right-sided attacker Ethan Delaney, which 1874 goalie Mike Shorthouse tipped smartly round the upright. 

There was effort and hard work evident from both teams but clearly the two offenses were struggling and indeed, visiting central striker Josh Oultram became more and more frustrated, as he yanked his shirt collar over his head on a few occasions when things didn’t go right for him. However, his time would come…

Pacy runs by home winger Luke Postle continued throughout the match and indeed, his low left-flank centre after the recess brought about the opening goal which served to kick-start some much needed offensive action from the two teams.

The second period… 

Midfielder Alfie Higgs had already seen a shot from 18 yards turned aside well by Shorthouse and forward Ryan Piggott had shot just wide but when Postle tricked his way to the left byeline, visiting left-back Ash Wardle (he of the long throws) turned the winger’s low centre, which Shorthouse had deflected slightly, into his own net. 

1-0...

CELEBRATION...

1874 had already missed a decent chance when midfielder Jacson Coppack lobbed well over the target from 10 yards but being a goal behind seemed to really spur Northwich forward, if only to please their increasingly despairing followers. 

Home goalie Ethan Hawkes raced from goal to deny the marauding Oultram and immediately blocked the follow-up of replacement Mark Reed as he recovered but he was left helpless when Chris McCann’s forward header was nodded into Reed’s path by the soaring Liam Fitzpatrick and the substitute’s low drive from inside-right found the net.

REED FOR 1-1...

Cue huge celebrations by Reed and the fans, as the forward moved away pretending to be an old bloke like me, albeit with an imaginary walking stick. Thanks for that, Mark…

OK...

REED SURE LOOKS HAPPY...

WARDLE (3) PLAYS HELP THE AGED...

The ever more dangerous Fitzpatrick drove an angled shot from the left which cannoned for a corner off Hawkes’ legs, then 1874 struck again, as the atmosphere improved and the match became even more exciting to watch.

Tussles between Reed and Tivi’s Callum Lloyd then 1874 substitute Josh Goodwin and ‘Dale’s impressive left-back Brandon Mossini, which were allowed to continue by the barracked referee, led to the rampaging Oultram gaining possession and slipping Goodwin into the right side of the penalty-box. The replacement’s low centre was converted with glee by Fitzpatrick, who raced over to celebrate within the tumultuous noise of the ecstatic Northwich choir…  

1-2 BY FITZPATRICK...

OULTRAM QUITE ENJOYED THAT...

And then, as an offensive set-piece with about seven minutes remaining in the encounter was awaited, home gloveman Hawkes joined his forces to try to salvage an equaliser but McCann cleared the ball for 1874 with a header, home replacement Eddie Rann was the only Tivi’ player back but he was mugged by the galloping Oultram. The rangy ‘centre-forward’ ran on, with Hawkes and Eddie Rann trying to get back for the hosts. Instead of shooting himself (not fatally, you understand…) the tall forward shoved the ball sideways for the supporting Reed to bundle into the net as he was challenged by the goalie and Delaney, who had to his credit raced back to defend for his team. 

REED AGAIN: 1-3...

It remained only for the devastated Eddie Rann to fire just too high for Tivi’ and the encounter ended…

The final words…

A strange match to watch, which strained the 1874 fans’ patience until their team regained parity. Even free-kicks around the 18 yard box weren’t utilised as free shooting hits from downtown, for the ball was curled in for headers which really didn’t work on the day.

However, as soon as Reed arrived on the scene, waving his pension book as he climbed from his mobility scooter, the game and also Oultram’s contribution changed, resulting in a dramatic final 20 minutes or so.

The form of Tivi’s Postle was keen and speedy, the occasional weaving runs of Derrick were smart and striker Piggott was always willing. Mossini was prominent on the left side, showing some deft footwork on occasions and Higgs made a few surging runs through the centre.

Subsequently though, 1874 tipped the balance near the end, as McCann the playmaker, Mark Jones in defence and the reshuffled offense eventually shone. Certainly skipper Matt Fenton was effective from his defensive position and despite a couple of knocks, led his team with aplomb. At the end, a deserved victory had been forged by the guests.

Tividale worked so hard and still pushed as time expired, urged on by Postle but I reckon that the referee would have been pleased to end the match, for a number of his decisions had been loudly disputed by the big voices in front of the 1874 flags…

Steve Burr, the 1874 assistant manager told me later that he felt his team wasn’t quite at it and that Tividale deserved to take the lead. Then the ‘master tactic’ of 4-4-2 was deployed which secured the win for Northwich…  

STEVE TAKES A BOW FOR THE CAMERA...