OJM BLACK COUNTRY 0-2 1874 NORTHWICH: THE MOWDOG'S INDEPENDENT REPORT + SCREENSHOTS WITH CAPTIONS...

 1874 Ease To Victory On Awkward Triplex Surface…

OJM Black Country 0-2 1874 Northwich…

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

Any kind of victory was being sought by Northwich on a very difficult surface at the Triplex Social Club in Kings Norton, Birmingham, in needing to cement 4th place in the MFL Premier Division. They managed to do that and thus they move on to play at Atherstone in the play-off competition on the 19th April. 

An early goal by Ben Guest really helped their cause but essentially the encounter was generally untidy to witness on the Triplex slopes, hardened by the recent lack of rain. Passing was hampered by the uncut grass, the ball often bobbled along the ground, yet also bounced very high and consequently the contest became one of high punts, hopeful long passes, lots of heading and a dearth of decent shooting and crossing.

Certainly, 1874 looked the more likely team to win but OJM possessed several neat performers, although lame shooting let them down badly. In the end, 1874 squandered late chances to win the match by a larger margin but that would have been cruel on Black Country.

Northwich took the opportunity to replace goalie Jack Atkinson at the break, whilst John McGrath was replaced early and striker Ethan Bailey was given a break after the interval. 

The offense on show before half-time…

Before the Green, sorry, Mauve Army had replenished their beer glasses at the break, their team had scored a very quick goal and had threatened with the long throws of skipper Matt Fenton, who had also seen a looped delivery from way downtown somehow fumbled away from his right angle of upright and crossbar by the very tall home ‘keeper Tom Clapp. Time stood still as the ball dropped agonisingly slowly and appeared to slip through Clapp’s gloves and it ended up dropping behind for a corner. However, spectators in a far better position to see the incident than myself, reckoned that the ball had slipped through Clapp’s grasp into the side of the net, then through it and thus should have been a goal.  

FENTON DELIVERS...

...CLAPP FUMBLES...

...& A CORNER IS AWARDED...

Lewis Nolan drove wide for the guests too but OJM’s efforts at the Northwich goal were weak. Low shots by Reece Morris and two by central striker Leslie Omorodion rolled wide, although Atkinson did sprawl to cover the second of those. The lively Michael Nelson drove a shot too high and Atkinson saved an angled effort by OJM skipper Brian Smikle easily.

NOLAN FIRES WIDE...

NELSON HOOKS TOO HIGH...

OBORODION SHOOTS...

...BUT THE BALL GOES WIDE, WITH ATKINSON SCURRYING...

McGrath had engineered the1874 goal with a strong left-flank run to the byeline and his low centre was prodded into the net from a few yards by Guest, past the boots of defender Callum Nimmo on the goal-line…  

MCGRATH'S CROSS...

...GUEST'S POKE...

...& IT'S 0-1...

Second period goal chances…

A right-wing Guest corner was to settle the result and ease Northwich’s frustrations with the conditions. Both the effective Mark Jones and Fenton rose to head the ball towards the left side of goal, although from where I stood, Fenton was hidden from sight and it seemed that it was Jones’ effort which Omorodion deflected slightly into the bottom left corner of the net but in fact Fenton had been the one who had powered the ball towards goal… Apologies to the formidable and slightly scary skipper… 

FENTON GETS IN FRONT OF JONES...

...& HIS HEADER BEATS OBORODION...

...FOR 0-2 TO 1874...

Mark Jones attempted to lob the stranded Clapp in a crowded penalty-box but his effort dropped too late, Shaun Weaver smashed a late effort over the target from inside-right late on, before he was blocked by a defender at the left post. Central defender Tom Morris lashed a juicy left-foot volley too high and soon afterwards, McGrath’s replacement Joel Jones smacked a half-volleyed left-footer, with a similar result.

MARK JONES LOBS TOO HIGH...

MORRIS SHOOTS OVER THE TARGET...

...AS DOES JOEL JONES...

The hosts? Both substitute Marco Adaggio and Nelson shot straight at Shorthouse, before a superbly judged header by the wily, well positioned Adaggio was splendidly saved by the agile Shorthouse, although an offside flag had actually been raised.

ADAGGIO (15) SEES HIS FLICK HELD BY SHORTHOUSE...

ADAGGIO'S DOWNWARD HEADER...

...IS SMARTLY KEPT OUT BY SHORTHOUSE, DESPITE AN OFFSIDE FLAG BEING WAVED...

The final words…

The Northwich coach suffered an arduous journey to Kings Norton and some of the players didn’t arrive until around 2.15pm, which wasn’t the best preparation for a crucial game but that early goal was pivotal in the grand scheme of things.

Although Nelson, Casey Collins, Smikle, the industrious Romehl Critchlow and the elusive Morris showed decent touches for Rangers, as they were once known, little came of their good work. Central defenders Nimmo and Stefan Cameron were strong enough, making life a physical battle for 1874’s Bailey and Weaver, then later for the legendary Josh Oultram. 

Right-sided defender Seb Pearsall was bright for the hosts but there was something decent about Omorodion, whose strength and smart ability offered 1874's Mark Jones and Fenton a well contested afternoon.

Home left-back Steven Leslie’s throws, corners and free-kicks were decent too but Adaggio’s introduction was a shot in the the arm for OJM. Gloveman Clapp should be applauded for his general handling… (Yes, really…)

For Northwich, it was a gruelling scrap on a poor battleground, midfielders Nolan, Guest and Alfie Foy all working hard in the conditions. Niall Osborne wasn’t offered many sorties upfield but subsequently he supported his central defenders with diligence.

The fine support offered by 1874’s fans was a credit to them but it was noticeable that there was more ‘vocal presence’ after the half-time refreshments… 

It’s what they do…