After the celebrations of Saturday night Chris Willcock’s team were asked to go to the well once again on Monday night, and given the run of games they had had to endure to get to this point there was no surprise to see multiple changes – 9 in total to the line up.
Glossop North End 0, 1874 Northwich 2
North West Counties Premier Division
Monday 20th April 2015
Match Report – Jonathan Haggart
Photographer – Jim Lockwood
The patched up side, that included assistant manager Lee Donafee on the bench, came up a motivated and physical 1874 team. The former meant that 1874 played pretty well, but the latter, aided by some weak refereeing, meant that Glossop North End defender Richard Gresty left the ground on crutches, his ankle swollen from a dreadful second half tackle by former teammate Neil Chappell. Had the referee shown Chappell a deserved first half yellow card for a late tackle on Sam Hind like he should, he would surely have pulled out of the challenge that has left Gresty sweating on the remainder of his season.
1874 had an early game plan of testing the referee and the motivation of the North End players, and having got some joy from both they had the better of the early chances, Matt Beadle striking a terrific shot from the edge of the area that cannoned off the post and safely away from goal.
For Glossop, Sam Hare, making his first start since the autumn after an injury ravaged season danced smartly into the box but put his shot wide, and shortly afterwards 1874 took the lead.
Beadle did well on the right touchline to fashion a high cross to the far post that Chappell rose highest to head down and into the net.
North End were rocked into action and tried to press, Sam Freakes lobbing the ball over the bar, Mark Reed having a strong looking penalty shout turned down and later on Reed glancing a Freakes centre just wide. However, they fell to a sucker punch in the 3rd minute of injury time.
A free kick on halfway was swung into the box where it was met by Stuart Wellstead 6 yards out and the striker made no mistake in doubling the lead.
After the break it should have been 3 when the ball fell to Adam Bayley in the box but he screwed his shot onto the outside of the post and wide. Hare put a snapshot over the bar shortly afterwards but then Beadle had to be thwarted by Higginbottom’s legs as he came to meet a one on one.
From the hour mark 1874 seemed comfortable just to defend the lead and it was left to North End to probe for an opening. One goal might have brought two, as it so often does, but they couldn’t get that breakthrough. Hind couldn’t get a clear shot on goal when the ball fell to him in the box and Lomax got a crucial flick on a ball that was destined to be headed in by Ben Richardson.
Credit to 1874 though, they held onto their lead well, limiting North End progress in the final 3rd. If they can improve their discipline – they have had a large number of dismissals this season and wont find many refs as generous as this one – they could be genuine contenders to succeed The Hillmen as champions next season.
