STOURPORT SWIFTS 1-5 1874 NORTHWICH: THE MOWDOG'S INDEPENDENT, LIGHTHEARTED MATCH REPORT + SCREENSHOTS...

 Strong Northwich Performance Leaves Swifts Perched…

Stourport Swifts 1-5 1874 Northwich

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

This encounter ended as it had begun, with 1874 in command against a Stourport outfit which wasn’t allowed to settle by the energetic chasing and closing down of the visiting hordes. 

Two swift goals for the guests, before Stourport had even begun to play, followed some enterprising and speedy rushes along the left flank by Liam Fitzpatrick, the left-sided 1874 wingback/full-back, who caused so much havoc before the recess that replacement Ben Maginness was introduced by the hosts to try to contain him during the second period.

Never really recovering from the first 45, Swifts then conceded a penalty immediately after half-time, which was duly converted but any chance of a fightback was soon quashed by a smart fourth Northwich goal. True, Stourport quickly netted a consolation strike but 1874 consolidated their advantage with a fifth goal and also forced a couple of really smart saves by home ‘keeper Dom Richards.

Swifts were undeniably hard working but in truth they were well beaten on the day by an in-form visiting crew.

The opening half…   

Before the roosting Swifts had even lifted off from Walshes Meadow, they were two goals down and shifting their ruffled feathers about in panic, unable to prevent their guests from dominating the contest. 

First, a left-wing corner by John McGrath saw striker Joel Jones leap high and not quite reach his delivery but 1874 skipper Matty Fenton, who would have been one of the first infantrymen I would have picked to fight alongside at the Somme in World War 1, shrugged off his marker Ethan Hanson and leaned forth to head the falling ball into the bottom left corner of the net, leaving Hanson sprawling and goalie Richards beaten.

FENTON BENDS...

...& HEADS 1874 IN FRONT...

Goal two contained a fine assist by the rampaging Fitzpatrick, who powered forward, moved inside trailing defenders from the left byeline and drove in a low cross-shot, which struck the inside of the far upright, before rebounding across goal to the lurking Joel Jones, who planted the ball joyfully into the empty net. Richards must have thought he was losing control of a pinball machine as the ball ricocheted about… 

FITZPATRICK'S SHOT CANNONS OFF THE RIGHT POST...

...FOR JOEL JONES TO CONVERT...

Another dash by Fitzpatrick saw his low centre cause a melee in the goalmouth, as 1874 striker Eden Bailey and goaltender Richards tumbled in a heap, like they had exited a pub together after a real piss-up, which allowed home defender Billy Moore to hack the ball clear. 

A McGrath free-kick was driven well over the target and Moore did well to turn behind a low centre by threatening Northwich right-back Niall Osborne.

MCGRATH'S FREE-KICK WOULD FLY OVER THE TARGET...

However, despite the effort put in by home striker Connor Deards, little was created by his colleagues offensively, as Northwich’s Fenton and sidekick Tom Morris ruled their own roost… 

The only shot of real note by the Swifts was when Ryan Snape found space at inside-left but he opened out his body to shoot right-booted from 18 yards and thus his effort predictably soared too high.

The lively second period…

In the early moments Deards challenged Fitzpatrick in his own 18 yard box, the 1874 player fell and a penalty was awarded by the very good referee, who was generally respected throughout by the players. Deards didn’t appear to complain and Bailey stepped up to fire a confident spot-kick past Richards for 0-3. 

BAILEY TAKES HIS SPOT-KICK...

...& SCORES...

Soon, neat 1874 midfielder Ben Guest fastened onto a loose ball inside his own half and released Bailey on the right flank, also from his own half and the forward raced on towards the byeline, releasing a fine low centre across the goalmouth and there was McGrath, stealing in at the far stick to fire a shot into the roof of the net from 6 yards. A clinical fourth goal and rather well assisted by the unselfish Bailey.…

BAILEY RUNS THE RIGHT FLANK AS MCGRATH CALLS FOR THE BALL...

...& MCGRATH SCORES FROM BAILEY'S FINE ASSIST...

...FOR 0-4...

However, the hosts fought back well and hardworking midfielder Jack Cresswell had a shot blocked but recovered to shove a pass to substitute Joe Phillips on the 18 yard line in traffic. He turned well and fired a low drive across goalminder Mike Shorthouse and just inside the right post.

PHILLIPS TURNS...

...& SCORES LOW FOR 1-4...

Subsequently though, there would  be no shock comeback for the hosts, as Northwich regained their stranglehold on the match. McGrath drove a low shot shot wide from downtown, Morris volleyed well wide of the right post following a set-piece and Richards did really well to dive low and keep out powerful efforts by both Guest and Bailey.

MORRIS VOLLEYS WIDE...

1874 replacement Theo Flanagan showed some neat touches and had a decent drive deflected for a corner but Bailey scattered the Swifts again, racing onto a long forward pass from Morris, which had cleared the heads of both Northwich substitute Mark Reed and home defender Aaron Birch. The quick and strong forward darted between home substitute Ben Maginness and Moore, then beat Richards with a hard, low shot…  

BAILEY SHOOTS...

...TO COMPLETE THE SCORING...

A late header by Deards drifted off target and a couple of attacks were blocked for corners but Stourport had been well beaten by a very busy, neat and effective opposition…

The final words…

Exposed on their right flank from the start, Swifts’ struggles continued, putting so much pressure on skipper Birch and ‘keeper Richards but oddly, the final two goals stemmed from runs by Bailey right of centre…

The experienced Mark Jones played a measured, effective and controlling game for 1874, defending well when necessary but breaking up the play in midfield and spewing sensible passes to uncrowded areas. Alongside him, Guest, McGrath and the wily, interesting and impish Henry McNulty all played their parts in a really well oiled Northwich engine room.

Joel Jones and Bailey offered no time on the ball for the home defenders time and again and when Joel Jones was taken out, the 1874 supporters were vociferous in their acclaim for the number 11’s exhausting efforts…

Replacement Josh Oultram out on the right flank for the visitors made several strong runs during the final 15 minutes, despite looking like a classic ‘centre-forward’, physically… 

Home wide players George Baker and Kobi Love were given little ammunition to work with, despite the industry of Snape, Cresswell and Ash Jackson. Replacement Dale Edwards (good to see him again…) made a few decent moves late in the game but it was too late to affect the outcome. 

The defeat would be tough for the Swifts to, er, swallow but it would have been perfect to have seen Mr Slevin on the pitch for Stourport, for his first name is, er, Martin…

All in all, Stourport would surely accept that on the day they had been well beaten and I wish Ben Jevons and his players well for the remainder of the season.

Ben was skipper at Lye ‘nobody likes us’ Town some years ago, in a crazy team which featured Scott Gennard, who would bellow out: 

“DOGGGEEEEE…” 

when I appeared on the terrace there… 

Unforgettable…