SHIFNAL TOWN 2-0 1874 NORTHWICH: THE INDEPENDENT, LIGHTHEARTED REPORT + SCREENSHOTS OF THE GOALS...

 Shifnal Hold Firm Under Northwich’s Aerial Offense…

Shifnal Town 2-0 1874 Northwich…

(MFL Play-off Final, Premier Division…)

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

This was a tough watch for most of the spectators, although plenty of beer was consumed by a number of them, which likely offered a slightly more palatable view of the proceedings.

Town netted early through Sam Fitzgerald’s spot-kick although in truth, the award of a penalty seemed a little harsh so early in such an important tie. Certainly the handball culprit was looking away from the ball as he flew awkwardly though the air like an out of control trampolinist, legs akimbo as if being thrown off a precipice.

After the penalty was converted, Fitzgerald made his feelings clear to the zealous 1874 fans whose vocal support was unceasing all afternoon, even in trying circumstances watching their team under-perform. A few Northwich players were carrying knocks, resulting in the choice of five outfielders for the bench, leaving second goalie Mike Shorthouse out altogether. He must have been devastated…

The 1874 chanting and voracious support added enormous atmosphere to the game, although credit must go to the few young lads from Shifnal who raised their voices to support their team to a 2-0 victory…

Despite Northwich’s aerial threat from skipper Matt Fenton’s long throws and the occasional corners and free-kicks by Jacson Coppack and John McGrath, little creativity stemmed from the men in green, despite the option of Niall Osborne wide on the right-flank who was often left standing in total isolation. 

Hence Fenton, surely not fully fit, was unavoidably exposed a few times by the angled runs of Kyle Byrne, the ebullient Lewis Jarman and the pantomime villain, Baron Fitzgerald, once of Stafford… 

The second Shifnal goal, almost on half-time, was well executed and Byrne’s assist was smart but the hosts didn’t need to capitalise on their fairly comfortable lead after the break, for the labouring, long launching Northwich offense failed to register when it mattered most in their season…

A headache of an opening half…  

1874’s Tom Morris caused a little danger immediately with a back-header from a typical long Fenton throw but Town broke instantly onto goaltender Andy Wycherley’s huge clearance and Fitzgerald latched onto the ball at inside-left with Fenton and Morris absent, leaving Osborne to chase the striker. Fortunately, Northwich gloveman Jack Atkinson twisted in the air to make a fine save from Fitzgerald’s meaty left footed shot from 15 yards, turning the ball high and away for a corner. 

The response from 1874 was a leaning header at the left post by bustling forward Eden Bailey which was easily caught by Wycherley. Soon though, the hosts were awarded their penalty…

WEAVER MISSES THE BALL...

...BUT MASLEN-JONES' HEADER STRIKES HIS FLAILING ARM...

...BEFORE HE FALLS INTO A HEAP...

...& A PENALTY IS AWARDED...

A right-flank corner curled in viciously towards the far stick and 1874 forward Shaun Weaver’s attempt to head the ball away failed as home defender Brad Maslen-Jones jumped to head the ball goalwards. However, the ball struck a hand of the leaping, off balance and floundering Weaver whose arms and legs were flailing wildly in the air with his back to Maslen-Jones. Claims for a penalty were granted by the referee and Fitzgerald netted, slowly approaching the ball and stubbing it left-footed to Atkinson’s left, leaving the ‘keeper flummoxed and still upright. 

FITZGERALD TAKES THE SPOT-KICK...

...& FOOLS ATKINSON...

...FOR 1-0...

Until goal two, little of note was achieved by the two teams, only the banter and vocal support offered by the Northwich fans breaking the physical tedium.  

Byrne made an unattended move at inside-left, as Jarman looked to support him on his left but the winger slotted a neat straight pass which bisected the hapless Fenton and Mark Jones for right-sided attacker Brad Bood to dash onto, having slipped inside Morris.

Osborne was still upfield and Bood nudged a left footed shot, which sneaked through the advancing Atkinson but even then Morris got back to cover and seemed like he would clear the ball from the goal-line, only to help it into his own net.

BYRNE'S ASSIST...

BOOD'S RUN...

...& HIS SHOT BEATS ATKINSON...

MORRIS CAN'T KEEP THE EFFORT OUT OF HIS GOAL...

2-0 at the break already looked too great an obstacle for 1874 to surmount given their lack of offensive creativity but as it turned out, they looked the more ascendant crew until the end.

The disjointed, often ugly second period…

Shifnal managed a couple of efforts at goal, that was all and both came from the boot of Byrne. Atkinson pushed aside one effort after a previous drive from downtown had soared way off target.

Northwich’s list of set-piece offerings began with Chris McCann’s header then another from Fenton which both rose too high, then Fenton nodded the ball dangerously across the face of goal, before Morris’ back-header was smuggled away for a corner at the right pole. 

A weak Weaver header was held by Wycherley before the Northwich forward drove a shot from distance too high and finally shot weakly for Wycherley to fall upon after the goalminder had time to eat a sandwich and pour a cup of tea.

Lots of high balls, no penetration and with some of the 1874 fans getting irritated by the lack of movement, accuracy and shots taken, the match became unruly and unpleasant.

The final words…

So, my afternoon had begun by arriving at Shifnal’s ground at around 1.30pm but of course, with some folks having pre-ordered tickets online, or perhaps paying with their phones, admission became slow and tough to administer as more and more folks arrived, pushing the kick-off time back to just beyond 3.15pm.

I found some guy’s wallet on the ground and handed it in, which I hope Shifnal Town’s officials managed to return to the no doubt devastated owner. 

The atmosphere was raucous, the language being bellowed simply worsened to become nasty at times but I was annoyed by one 1874 fan who berated the referee as a 

‘Birmingham c…’

Now let me correct the chap who was at that moment brandishing yet another pint of beer during the second period, that Shifnal is far closer to Wolverhampton and Telford than it is to Brum, where I was born a Brummie. 

I was offended, yeah… 

I can also say ‘Alright bab?’ with the best of them…  

The contest was broken up really effectively by Shifnal’s players, who delayed the action when fouled, by writhing for as long as the main official allowed them to. The disruptions continued through the second-half in particular, with time-wasting by the home goalie and indeed, Wycherley went to ground several times and called for medical attention. 

This was interesting because when he was upright again, his booted clearances were as huge as they had been all through the match but the referee only decided a caution was necessary for procrastination very late in the tie. 

Watching as an independent reporter, the ruses were clearly tactically effective and no blame should be attached to Shifnal, for winning promotion was at stake for them…

An ugly playground scrap involved Morris and certainly Bood, who totally lost control and subsequently needed players from both teams to calm him down, before he was wisely withdrawn.

TROUBLE 1...

TROUBLE 2...

The game then limped to a unseemly finish and of course Coppack landed heavily on his back and was stretchered from the pitch after a long delay, following a headed duel with home defender Jack Fishman who clearly loved the banter he experienced with the 1874 supporters…  

Jarman and Fitzgerald were effective for Town but the defence was splendid in dealing with Northwich’s set-piece deliveries, so credit to Maslen-Jones and Jack Rowley (not the Manchester United legend, who was actually born in nearby Wolverhampton in 1920…) Fishman and left-back Kane Lewis were also strong and determined as the full-backs.

And to the bellowing 1874 fan, remember Wolverhampton? It’s near Shifnal. Got it?

Bood was busy, midfielders Kyle Bennett, the skipper and also Kevin Monteiro were industrious and the latter was combative too.

I met the injured Jamie Melbourne’s dad in my local surgery last week in Solihull, which is near Birmingham but not close to Shifnal. Just sayin’… 

1874 were served well enough by their three defenders but apart from rare moments, little was seen of the midfielders, except for occasional instances by McCann and Coppack.

Forward Weaver won some aerial balls but it seemed such a bind for Bailey, who suffered ninety minutes of service starvation, having to feed off scraps, heavily encumbered by the home defenders. Maybe attacking from wide might have presented him with more scope to penetrate but Northwich did seem to play rather a narrow game, leaving Osborne and later the replacement Liam Fitzpatrick largely redundant…

WEAVER LOOKS LIKE HE HAS BEEN PRESS-GANGED INTO THE NAVY.
THE REFEREE MUST HAVE SEEN THIS... 

When Joel Jones was introduced late on by 1874, Wycherley found his presence undesirable…

Congratulations then to Shifnal…