TIVIDALE FC 0-3 1874 NORTHWICH (Abandoned after 45 minutes...): THE INDEPENDENT MATCH REPORT + SCREENSHOTS...

 Incompletion…

Tividale FC 0-3 1874 Northwich…

(Abandoned after 45 minutes…)

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

Thanks must be offered to Tividale for another fine welcome, also the printed teamsheet, the mug of tea and a couple of biccies. (I did pay my entrance money, honestly…)

This encounter went no further than half-time, when visitors 1874, urged on by their rather vocal band of supporters accompanied by a beating drum, were leading by 0-3.

The Tivi players retreated at pace from the field on 45 minutes, certainly distressed at being three goals adrift,

which did seem unusual but, led by skipper Jack Storer, something then occurred, causing a few 1874 players to surge forth and check out what was happening. 

Tivi returned for the second period first but it appeared that some banter was soon being aimed at Storer and company by several 1874 fans and after turning away, the very effective home skipper moved towards the dugouts and eventually he led his team-mates from the field,

I am unable to comment upon what went down to cause such an exit, for I truly have no idea. I was positioned on the same side as the 1874 fans, due to needing shelter for my camera if it rained but during the recess those supporters had moved away from where I was filming and further along the covered terrace, nearer to the goal their team would be attacking after the break. 

The three officials and representatives from both clubs talked for a long time on the pitch, until, finally, at around 4.25pm, the referee abandoned the match.

Leading 0-3 at the time, it would be safe to assume that Northwich were angry and frustrated by the decision, especially as any replay of the contest would likely be on a Tuesday evening, thus initiating a long, awkward journey south for the players along a busy M6…   

The action in the opening 45…

Tivi began strongly and almost netted when Storer’s pass towards the right evaded visiting defender Liam Fitzpatrick, offering a chance to home winger Shakeel Brown but his low angled effort was blocked for a corner by 1874 goalminder Jack Atkinson. 

BROWN'S SHOT WOULD BE SAVED BY ATKINSON...

Good movement by Storer and Brown and the physicality of central striker Ezekiel Agyemang looked promising for Tivi and it took some tremendous defending by visiting skipper Mark Jones to keep his team in the game.

However, the men in mauve began to worry the home defence and soon, Kyle Worsley opened the scoring. A flicked pass left by the interesting Will Arnold fed Worsley and after he had tricked his way infield, he curled a fine effort from downtown beyond the fingertips of the diving home goalie Ethan Hawkes and into the far corner of the net.  

WORSLEY IN POSSESSION...

...HE CURLS A RIGHT-FOOTER...

...BEYOND THE LEAP OF HAWKES...

...FOR 0-1...

Stung, the hosts began to find the promptings of Jacson Coppack and the slick Arnold, plus the supporting Northwich full-backs Niall Osborne and Fitzpatrick more than a little awkward to deal with and when the industrious central striker Mike Hayes was adjudged by a linesman to have been fouled by home defender Joe Garrington, 1874 struck again.

GARRINGTON IS PENALISED...

The free-kick was couple of yards from the right byeline and eight yards or so in from the touchline and although John McGrath’s left boot seemed the likely weapon, Worsley’s low right-footer flew towards the middle of the 6-yard box. Unfortunately for Tivi, defender Tom Rann, facing the goal, stretched out and struck the ball into his own net…  

WORSLEY'S FREE-KICK...

...FINDS THE BOOT OF TIVI'S TOM RANN...

...FOR AN OWN-GOAL & 0-2...

A decent 18 yard volley by Storer flew wide and a couple of Tivi set-pieces forced more good defensive work from Jones and Osborne in particular but Worsley also fired two more curling shots and a free-kick off target for the visitors.

Hayes broke into the penalty-box for 1874, moved left and Hawkes did well to touch the ball wider, preventing a shot and Hayes’ eventual centre was cleared.

HAWKES GETS A TOUCH TO DENY HAYES...

HAWKES DOES WELL TO TIP AWAY A DANGEROUS DELIVERY...

Subsequently though, a corner on the left flank by Worsley saw 1874 increase their lead, as Jones’ awkward and downward near post header flicked off Garrington’s boot in front of the off balance Hawkes and the ball bounced gently into the net.

JONES' HEADER...

 

...CLIPS GARRINGTON'S BOOT...

...& IT'S 0-3...

The final words…

Whatever the outcome of any investigation into the extraordinary situation after the interval, my report really concerns only the game action. 

The referee was forced to discipline both Storer and Agyemang for reckless challenges during the opening period, which occurred right in front of the incensed visiting supporters and emotions were certainly running high.

UNPLEASANTNESS BEFORE THE BREAK...

Eddie Rann and Myles Durham looked to engineer the home midfield but Jones and the gloves of Atkinson kept the home attack largely at bay.

Haydn Cooper scrapped in midfield for the guests, and Jack Airlie supported his skipper ably when needed in defence. 

However, it was such a sad end to what should have been a promising afternoon’s entertainment at The Beeches…