Winsford United 2 – 5 1874 Northwich FC

A MIKE Brandon double ensured 1874 Northwich secured a comfortable friendly win at the Barton Stadium home these two clubs share.

The prolific forward has scored seven goals in five pre-season games after striking four times at Prestatyn last Saturday.  

1874 boss Ian Street went for a strong starting 11 which included the 19 players announced in the squad for the upcoming season.

New Winsford manager Eddy Haslam fielded a side largely made up of trialists after the departure of Lloyd Morrison who took 12 first team players with him to Mossley.

The difference in quality between the sides showed in a first half which saw 1874 dominate against their higher division opponents.

However, it did not take 1874 long to take the lead when four minutes in Brandon scored the first of his two goals after taking the ball round Blues keeper Jones and slotting home.

1874 remained in control, and it was soon 2-0 on 15 minutes when Brandon controlled beautifully with his feet a long ball which had caught the Blues defence out, before rolling the ball calmly under a keeper he had found himself one-on-one with.   

The Blues afternoon got worse on 30 minutes when 1874 midfielder Lee Hendley drilled home a low shot into the bottom corner of the net for 3-0.

After scoring a goal, Hendley played his part in the fourth goal of the afternoon for 1874 when his cross from the left fell to Brandon who curled a teasing ball back into the box which saw centre-half Danny Thomas slot home off the half volley.

Such was their dominance, 1874 could have added to their lead before half-time when a mistake from Blues centre-back Jones gifted Brandon a chance to make it five, but this time the Blues keeper was equal to his efforts after he had found himself through on goal.

In contrast, the second period produced a far more even encounter with a much improved Blues performance.

Two minutes into the second half the Blues were presented with a chance to reduce the arrears from the penalty spot after the referee had adjudged Thomas to have pushed in the penalty box.

Walcott obliged with a well-placed penalty kick past 1874 keeper Matt Conkie to make it 4-1.

The Blues battled to get themselves back into the game without any clear openings, but did manage to reduce the deficit further when an unmarked Lane headed home from a corner on 79 minutes.

Unfortunately for the Blues there was to be no unlikely comeback and instead 1874 added a fifth 88 minutes into the game.

The goal came from substitute Phil Coffin’s corner which he had appeared to over hit, only for Paul Bowyer to head back into the box where Thomas was there to glance a header into the back of the net.

The strike capped off an excellent afternoon for 1874 which saw Street’s men claim their fourth win in five pre-season games in front of an impressive crowd of 198.

Teams

1874 Northwich: Matt Conkie (GK), Ryan Mitchell (Wilding 75), Ryan Stewart, Danny Thomas, Lee Duckworth (Bowyer 75), Adam Foy, Lee Hendley (Coffin 75), Ste Crane, Mike Brandon (Lewis 75), Anthony Marshall (McKay 75), Dean McGregor

Substitutes: Paul Bowyer, Jack McKay, Kyle Wilding, Paul Lewis, Phil Coffin

Goals: Brandon (4 & 15), Hendley (30), Thomas (39 & 88)

Winsford United: Jones, Banda, Lane, Jones, Smith, Rothwell, Jennings, Mac, Zajac, Walcott, Botwe

Substitutes: Herd, Cromption, Queeley, Mehmet, Ingham

Goals: Walcott (47), Lane (79)

Attendance: 198