1874 Northwich V Lichfield City (Premier Division)

​1874 Northwich opened their league season with a home match against Lichfield City at Townfield. It’s been a busy summer for the Greens since relegation from the NPL Division One West and they have made some encouraging moves to bounce back at step five. It’s a new look squad under manager Chris Herbert that started the season well with an encouraging win in the FA cup.

Lichfield City were brilliant last season in the MFL premier division before losing out on promotion in the play off final to Darlaston Town. The Staffordshire side were one of the teams to watch at this level and will be looking to go again this season under manager Ivor Green. There’s been some good additions throughout the summer with the likes of James Wilcock and Jack Arnold coming in.

Townfield is an excellent stadium with a lot of character and is well worth a visit for any ground hopper. There are references to their history and their proud of being a fan owned club. The atmosphere yesterday was a big selling point with the home fans getting behind their team and making it a tough place to go for visiting teams.

The location of the ground is a bit further away than most of the teams in the MFL. Lichfield were helpful when it came to the travel arrangements yesterday and offered a free spot on their coach to get to the match.

A huge thanks goes out to them for offering a lift to get there to cover it for the MFL.  

​Starting Line Ups

The starting line up for 1874 Northwich included Mike Shorthouse starting in goal and Matty Fenton captaining the team from centre back. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Joel Jones leading the line up front and being supported by Harvey Rhoades and Matty Williams on the wings.

There was just one change from the team that started against Stockport Town in the FA cup last weekend with Matty Williams coming into the team and playing on the left wing.  

The starting line up for Lichfield City featured Jack Sandel starting in goal and Joe Haines captaining the team from left back. The formation appeared to be a 4-3-3 with Chandler Pegg playing as the main striker up front and being supported by Jack Edwards and Luke Childs on the wings.

There were four changes from the team that started against Gresley Rovers in the FA cup last weekend with Blake Kindred coming into the team and playing in the number ten role.  

​First Half

1874 Northwich got off to a positive start in the early stages of the match and took the lead early on to settle any nerves in the opening ten minutes. A well worked corner was played to the back post where the ball was knocked on to Matty Fenton who produced a composed finish into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0 to the hosts. It was a brilliant corner that caught the visitors off guard.

The hosts had some momentum following the opening goal and took the game to Lichfield in the opening half an hour of the match. The goal made a huge difference and gave them that confidence and belief going forward. Joel Jones had a good chance for 1874 when he made an encouraging run into the box before putting his effort wide in the 14th minute.

​The plan for Lichfield was to settle into the match following the early set back and they adjusted to the goal well. They looked well organised at the back and despite the sustained pressure by 1874 Northwich they didn’t allow to many efforts at goal.

The main danger for 1874 was Joel Jones throughout the first half who was linking up the play and leading the line well up front.

Another well worked corner for the Cheshire side resulted in Mark Jones heading wide at the back post. This seemed like something they had been working on in training and played to their strengths as they made it awkward for Lichfield with second balls and committed a lot of players into the box.

​The best clear-cut chance for Lichfield came in the 35th minute when a free-flowing move saw Luke Childs setting up Callum Griffin who was free in the box. He had a good effort at goal instinctively tipped over the post by Mike Shorthouse for a corner.  

Lichfield played the corner into the box and were positive and committed a lot of players forward in search of the equaliser. The corner got cleared and the visitors got caught on the counterattack with full-back Liam Fitzpatrick making an inspired run down the left-hand side before getting free in the box and finishing into the bottom right corner to make it 2-0.

​1874 Northwich impressed throughout the first half and there were signs of a team that can challenge at step five this season. Matty Fenton was excellent at the back and read the game well to take the pressure off the hosts. Mark Jones also played well and served as a defensive shield for the backline. He’s got that physicality off the ball and offers that grit needed from holding midfield.

Lichfield had an excellent chance to make it 2-1 just before the end of the half when a well worked corner resulted in Jack Edwards getting free at the back post who put his effort over the bar.      

Second Half

1874 Northwich started the second half well and had an early opportunity to seal the match in the opening few minutes. Jacson Coppack got free in the box before having his effort well saved by Jack Sandel in the Lichfield goal.

The second half was really encouraging from a Lichfield perspective who stuck to their front foot philosophy which worked so well last season and took the game to 1874 Northwich despite the scoreline. It would have been easy for them to hold back but they were looking for a way back into the match.

Despite the lack of clear-cut chances in front of goal the momentum of the match changed throughout the second half with 1874 Northwich looking to hold on and see the match out with Lichfield looking for a breakthrough to get back in it.

​The hosts withstood the Lichfield pressure well in the second half. Matty Fenton and Tom Morris impressed at the back and got first to a lot of long balls alongside making some important clearances.

The best chance for the hosts in the second half came when substitute Matt Woolley was free at the back post following a throw in into the box. He connected with the ball but just missed the target for the Cheshire side in the 75th minute.  

Lichfield got back into it late on with ten minutes to go. They scored on the break following a 50/50 challenge on Eddie Frempong that could have gone either way. Substitute Jack Arnold got free in the box before producing a classy finish into the bottom right corner to silence the home crowd and set up a nervy finish.

1874 Northwich were able to stifle Lichfield’s momentum in the latter stages of the second half. Scott McGowan and Eddie Frempong were brought off the bench and helped get the ball up the pitch to take the pressure off the hosts. Both players impressed and showed the depth of the 1874 squad.   

The visitor’s best chance came in the final few stages where Jack Edwards had a shot well saved by Mike Shorthouse in the 1874 Northwich goal. It was another crucial save by the goalkeeper, and it went a long way to getting a result yesterday.

The hosts held out in the final few stages of the match to get the three points. It builds some momentum going into Brocton on Tuesday evening.

Despite the loss, there were some encouraging signs for Lichfield in this match and they will be looking to bounce back against Uttoxeter Town on Wednesday.      

FT score: 1874 Northwich 2-1 Lichfield City

Attendance: 231

Man of the Match: Mike Shorthouse (1874 Northwich)               

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League