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

Prestatyn Town Reserves 0 – 5 1874 Northwich

FOUR goals from Mike Brandon ensured 1874 Northwich coasted to their fourth pre-season victory in as many games in sunny North Wales.

The number nine exploded in a devastating 30 minute spell at the start of the second half which saw 1874 score all their five goals.

The Seasiders played a mixture of under 21 and reserve players as well as four first team regulars with their Europa League Second Qualifying Round game against Croatian side FC Rijeka in mind.

It took a while for the quality difference between the sides to show after a dour first half in which neither side created many openings.

Chances were at a premium and Anthony’s Marshall’s 25 yard shot which narrowly went wide and Brandon’s strike from the edge of the box into the keeper were the only memorable moments of a period which 1874 edged.

However, the difference in quality between the sides started to show in the second period with 1874 taking the lead on 51 minutes when a Lee Hendley cross left Dean McGregor with an easy tap-in at the back post despite the best efforts of the Seasiders goalkeeper who got a touch to the ball.

Four minutes later it was 2-0 when this time McGregor was the provider of a ball that Brandon rolled in from close range.

On the hour, 1874 made it 3-0 when another cross from Hendley was this time headed home expertly into the top corner of the net by Brandon.

A dominant 1874 continued to find space against a depleted looking Prestatyn side and on 69 minutes, Marshall sent through Brandon who slotted empathetically home after being one-on-one with the keeper.

There was still time for 1874 to find a fifth and Brandon to get his fourth goal of the afternoon on 73 minutes when Brandon again nodded home from susbstitute Phil Coffin’s cross.

Rout completed and job done to leave 1874 fans in a party mood on the day of the Prestatyn carnival.

Bastion Road, home of Prestatyn Town FC.

Picture: Groundhopping blog

1874 Northwich FC: Conkie (GK), Mitchell, Tickle, Bowyer, Duckworth, Crane, Hendley, McKay, Brandon, Marshall, McGregor

Substitutes: Hadzik, Coffin, Wilding, Marrow

Lostock Gralam 1 – 3 1874 Northwich FC – Pre-season match

1874 NORTHWICH powered to a comfortable victory in their first ever game since forming as a new club.

The fan-owned outfit, formed in November by their supporters, were applauded on to the Park Stadium pitch by a 400 strong crowd before the teams kicked off.

Little than two minutes had gone and 1874 fans were silenced when Lostock took an early lead. The goal came when a free kick taken from the right hand side near the halfway line floated into the 1874 penalty box, evading everyone before Sam Wakefield looped a shot past goalkeeper Matt Conkie for 1-0.

The Grey Lambs lead did not last long with 1874 equalising on 13 minutes. Anthony Marshall was the scorer when his shot deflected into bottom left hand corner of the net to the delight of the 1874 faithful.

Drawing level appeared to inspire 1874 and they were soon in front when 29 minutes in James Marrow swept home a low cross into the bottom left to make it 2-1.

1874 remained on top for the remainder of the first period before manager Ian Street made nine changes to his team for the second half as he bid to give the trialists a run-out.

The changes did not affect the 1874 momentum and the away side were 3-1 up two minutes into the second half. A long ball from keeper Mike Langley was flicked on into the path of forward Mike Brandon, who took the ball before darting past his marker and sliding the ball under the feet of the Lambs keeper.

With a two goal deficit, 1874 continued to dominate the rest of the second period and playing some nice passing football in a very encouraging first outing.

1874 Northwich will look to continue this momentum with an away trip at Widnes Vikings to compete in the Supporters Direct Shield against fellow supporters-owned AFC Rushden & Diamonds on Saturday, kick off, 5:15pm.

A coach Widnes bound will leave the Memorial Hall at 3:30pm, with the cost being £8 return for adults and concessions.

Places can be reserved by e-mailing Brian Edge at brian.edge2@btinternet.com.

Players from both teams prepare to kick-off at the start of the game.
Photo: Jack Owen

1874 Northwich first half team: Matt Conkie (GK), Ryan Mitchell, Dave Tickle, Danny Thomas, Lee Duckworth, Ste Crane, Lee Hendley, Anthony Marshall, James Marrow, Ryan Stewart, Paul Coffin.

Goals: Marshall (13), Marrow (29)

1874 Northwich second half team: Mike Langley (GK), Ryan Mitchell, Andy Hadzik, Jon Jones, Paul Bowyer, Paul Lewis, Kyle Wilding, Anthony Marshall, Mike Howarth, Mike Brandon, Jake Linaker.

Goal: Brandon (47)

Attendance: 389 (guests taking crowd over 400).

Acknowledgements: Thanks to Tom Butler for writing the notes for this report as I wasn’t at the game and Vicki England for providing the teams, goal scorers and attendance.

New club set to play first ever game in Northwich

1874 NORTHWICH will start their inaugural season with a friendly match against rivals Lostock Gralam.

The fan-run club, formed in November 2012, are due to face the Lambs on Wednesday at their ground behind the Slow and Easy pub, kick off, 7:30pm.

1874 Northwich will play their first ever game in Northwich.

Picture: Flickr

This encounter comes after a clash scheduled on Sunday against Winsford United was cancelled due to work that has been going on for weeks to improve the pitch at the Barton Stadium.

A further pre-season fixture against fellow fan-owned outfit AFC Rushden & Diamonds has been moved to Widnes Vikings for the same reason.

The Trust are also looking at providing transport for fans to both the games at Prestatyn and Widnes.

Pre-season friendly match fixtures

Wednesday 10 July K/O 7:30pm – (away) – Lostock Gralam FC – Friendly We will have a souvenir brochure on sale at the ground for this game
Saturday 13 July K/O 5:15pm – (AT WIDNES) – AFC Rushden & Diamonds – SD Shield
Tuesday 16 July K/O 7:30pm – (away) – Congleton Town
Saturday 20 July K/O 3.00pm – (away) – Prestatyn Town FC
Tuesday 23 July K/O 7:30pm – (away) – Warrington Town
Saturday 27 July K/O 3:00pm – (BARTON STADIUM) – Winsford United
Tuesday 29 July K/O 7:30pm – (HOME) – Chester XI