22nd April 2017 - AFC Darwen 1 v 3 1874 Northwich - A morn spent plastering, finalising the day's gig, planting a few flowers and doing the never ending supply of dishes. Dinner and out with my lovely wife to the Anchor Ground with an easy sun-blessed drive up several motorways, 1 A Road and 1 B Road - simple! A bit of potter on some wasteland at the back of the ground produced 133 specimens of the fungus Egghead Mottlegill (Panaeolus semiovatus) with an array of sizes all on show - excellent! Into the ground and tea and freshly cooked chips were thoroughly enjoyed whilst sat in the shade before we moved to the opposite side of the stand and lazed about in glorious sunshine watching the teams prepare and noting a Drone hovering above the pitch, no doubt used to get some choice aerial shots. Note was also made of a well maintained pitch and a chat was had with a Northwich fan who duly gave a prediction of 3 - 1 to his team which, as it turned out, proved to be bang on the mark. Bloody good shout sir! And so, after a good lounge about 3pm arrived and we shifted our inert arses off the grass and took up our pitch side positions to watch another Hallmark Security League encounter.
After an early flourish by the 1874 brigade, that primarily revolved around the whirligig that is Scott McGowan, the game settled down with the visitors always seeming to hold the trump cards. A constant pressure was building upon the home team's rear guard and it looked set to pay deserved dividends when 1874's No 8 (Mark Jones) and No 10 (McGowan) linked up and caused untold kerfuffle and it was only a last gasp outstretched defensive limb that just about evaded critical danger for the alert Anchor boys. Darwen eventually got a finger in the footballing pie but the visitors had the next best chance when their No 11 (Taylor Kennerley) fired in two firm shots but was equalled by the opposing mittman (Ben Proctor) who produced a brace of solid blocks. Corners came the away sides way, all aimed at the far post that was void of any threat - Darwen were being let off a keen hook. In return the home lads were given hope when their striving No 9 made a real forceful and energetic dash and beat several players before putting in a final pass that was truly awful and gave the impetus right back to the guests. The game now fell into a trough with a distinct sparsity of high end action taking place. Several more corners came for 1874, improvement on each one was had but the Darwen goalkeeper dealt with two particularly threatening balls using firm fists to clear the trouble. It was at this point that Northwich's No 7 (Adam Whitlock) was getting more and more up to speed and looked highly likely to make that initial breakthrough. As the half swung towards the midway closure Darwen put together some neat and tidy moves but it was the away side who came closest yet again with the menace that is Scott McGowan dinking and passing and allowing the No 15 (Tyler Edwards) to volley across the face of the net and just fail to find the target and...an incoming foot. As I scribbled my notes Darwen raced down the other end and a swift cross was taken and a tap in by Nicholas Hepple turned this game on its head. The ball only just trickled over the line but trickle it did and out of the blue Darwen were 1 goal to the good. Northwich now pushed back, the effective No 9 (Thomas Bailey) rattled the framework and the ball pinged out with an in-rushing striker swinging madly and making good air contact but missing the globe completely. The ref blew for half time soon after and I was wondering if it was just going to be one of those oddball days that sees the team in charge get one right up the khyber - ouch!
A pie and tea for me, a Topic and tea for the missus - both enjoyed and then back in the sun for the second period.
Some fast hustling from the Cheshire based team came with the impressive Whitlock winning a ball from nothing and providing a cross that led to a shot that was solidly blocked. Seconds later another effort was stopped, then a free-kick was heaved away and a corner easily dealt with too - Darwen were standing firm in the face of a pressurised tidal wave. Darwen found a release valve through their hardworking Hepple who again forced forth with tenacity and was mightily unlucky not to find a colleague with a pretty decent cross. Now the excitement rose, the visiting fans found their voices and as the men from the town of salt pushed like a pervert on a toilet door Darwen could only respond by throwing legs, bodies and arses in the way to stop a shot from getting through. To help alleviate the pressure the back men were also finding some good through balls and Northwich had to be mighty careful not to get caught on the hop and go 2 down.
Amid the frenetic action a pause was taken as Darwen brought on two sets of fresh legs and then suddenly the ball got rolling again. Out of nowhere McGowan of Northwich was through and in the blinking of an eye he tapped home and justifiably brought his side back on level terms. One now expected 1874 to built and cultivate a real onslaught but credit to The Salmoners who didn't sit back and still tried to create a situation. The visitors now had their tails up though and a corner saw the ball eventually ping wide and McGowan had another punt but it was straight at the keeper. Surely another goal was coming, or would Darwen stay disciplined and turn things around. A through ball came next for the home lads and their No 9 (Nicholas Hepple) was keen to collar it. He lunged, he missed, he grazed a defender and a brutal red card was issued and the game took a cruel turn. A shame this because this card was harsh and I feel it important to stress that this shouldn't detract from a good game the player was having. To add insult to injury it was only moments later that Northwich created their next chance and after some good hustling and a lax in the Darwen defence Adam Whitlock sidled in, connected and knocked the ball beneath the keeper into the awaiting net - 1-2 to the greens. A couple of minutes later and a free-kick for Northwich came, it was served in and 1-3 was had, this time Matthew Woolley had the glory and was surely responsible for killing the game as a contest.
The last portion of the game saw Darwen try and recover from the 3 quick body blows they had received but all to no avail. A hopeful shot by their No 12 (Liam Cole) sailed over and a well won corner only resulted in a counterattack that nearly saw a fourth goal added. Northwich should have made it 4 for sure just before the final whistle when Edwards had a close in header that went wide of the mark. The game finished soon after, it had certainly been an eventful one. Man of the Match today goes to 1874 Northwich's No 7 (Adam Whitlock) who worked tirelessly, was always in the thick of the action, just had that extra touch of class that helped his team take all 3 points. A good stint and well deserved sir!
FINAL THOUGHT - The knicker elastic of football, if pulled hard enough can certainly twang many ways and result in a few sore arses for those on the receiving end. Today Darwen got unfairly thwacked with a refereeing decision the real stinger that was perhaps right but still seemed a trifle unjust. 1874 Northwich are a good team though and they had the stringer stranglehold on this game for the most part and their win, at the end of the day, goes without question. A grand day out this to one of the nicest grounds in the league and one we will certainly revisit, especially if the weather forecast is set fair. Thanks to all for a grand game at such a late stage in the season and it won't be long now before the withdrawal symptoms will be setting in to many a keen watcher of the glorious non-league game - get yer tablets ready! Oh and to finally add, Northwich is famous for having a salt producing heritage, hence the title of this article. Cheers!
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