OJM Black Country V 1874 Northwich (Premier Division)

​OJM Black Country were looking to finish their season strongly with an eye-catching result against play-off side 1874 Northwich. The hosts were a team in form going into this weekend with four wins from their last six matches to boost their hopes of a top half finish.

It’s been an encouraging season for OJM following promotion from division one last season. They have been competitive throughout the season with only twelve losses from 33 matches going into yesterday. The club have established themselves in the premier division under manager Adam Younis and avoided any worries of finishing in the bottom two.      

1874 Northwich have been one of the standout teams in the premier division this season and were looking to get a momentum building win for the play offs next weekend. The Green Army have been a welcome addition to the MFL Premier Division and were looking to bounce back from Tuesday’s 4-1 loss at Dudley Town.  

Their away form has been impressive this season with only two losses from sixteen matches going into yesterday. The Cheshire side have a good following on the road, and it was more of the same against OJM.

The Greens are tough to break down with only 24 goals conceded away from home which could serve them well in the play offs.   

​Starting line ups

OJM’s starting line up included Tom Clap starting in goal and Brian Smikle captaining the team from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Leslie Omorodion playing up front and being supported by Michael Nelson and Reece Morris on the wings.

There were two changes from their match against Atherstone Town last weekend with Steven Leslie coming into the team and playing at left-back.  

The starting line-up for 1874 Northwich included Jack Atkinson starting in goal and Matt Fenton captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 5-3-2 with a front two of Eden Bailey and Shaun Weaver being supported by Lewis Nolan in the number ten role.

There were four changes from their match against Dudley Town in mid-week with Mark Jones coming back into the team and playing as part of a back three alongside Matt Fenton and Tom Morris. 

​First Half

The opening stages of the match were free flowing with chances for both sides. OJM had a half chance when a well worked corner found Reece Morris on the edge of the box who put his shot wide of the left-hand post in the 3rd minute.

1874 capitalised and were ruthless in the box to take a 1-0 lead after five minutes. John McGrath beat a few players down the left-hand side before squaring it to Ben Guest who calmly finished into the bottom right corner. It was a well worked goal from the visitors to settle into the match.

The Green Army were arguably the better side throughout the first half and looked to build on their 1-0 lead. Lewis Nolan found some space in the box before putting a shot wide of the top right corner in the 18th minute.

OJM gradually grew into the match as the first half went on and showed character to stay in it at 1-0 down. Callum Nimmo was reading the danger well at centre back with Leslie Omorodion offering a threat up front to help them get up the pitch.

​The hosts looked a threat from a couple of set pieces into the box and had a good chance for an equaliser from a throw in into the box. A long throw found Michael Nelson at the back post who couldn’t quite connect with the ball to send it goalwards on 29 minutes.  

The visitors looked well organised off the ball throughout the first half with Ben Guest doing well to track back and break up the play from midfield. Mark Jones also impressed at centre back and did well to clear dangerous balls into the box. The work rate off the ball should give 1874 supporters hope of causing an upset against Atherstone next weekend.

They worked well as a team in this match with every player knowing when to press the OJM players and close the space.   

OJM’s best opportunity for an equaliser came when Leslie Omoridion found some space from the edge of the box before putting a shot wide of the left-hand post. He did well to hold the ball up for OJM yesterday and made some promising runs into the final third to cause some problems for 1874.

​None the less, the Cheshire side were fairly comfortable at 1-0 up and were managing the game well against a tough OJM side throughout the first half.  

Second Half

The second half was mainly scrappy with not that many clear-cut chances in front of goal.

1874 Northwich started on the front foot and were looking to seal the game and make it 2-0 early on. The visitors were cheered on by a brilliant away support that came down the M6 to get behind the team yesterday.

Full credit to the away supporters who travelled a 70-mile trip from Northwich to Kings Norton for this match.   

The Green Army were rewarded when 1874 found a second thanks to a well worked corner. A floated delivery by Ben Guest found Matt Fenton who headed in at the back post in the middle of the second half.

OJM showed character and kept going at 2-0 down in search of a way back into the match. They were moving the ball about well with Casey Collins looking a threat from attacking midfield and getting into some dangerous positions. The only thing lacking was that final ball to stretch the 1874 defence.

1874 Northwich manager Chris Herbert made an astute substitution and took off Mark Jones in preparation for the play offs next Saturday. He’s been an ever present for the Greens this season with 35 starts and could be a key player for them next weekend.

The visitors were comfortable to play on the counter late on and looked to break off the shoulder thanks to the pace of substitute Joel Jones and Shaun Weaver up front.  

There was a late chance to make it 3-0 when Shaun Weaver had a header at the back post well saved by Tom Clap in the OJM goal.

None the less, both teams cancelled each other out in the final twenty minutes of the match with 1874 getting their 11th away win of the season. 

Full Time

The visitors put in a professional performance yesterday against OJM to get the three points. It’s been an incredible turnaround for 1874 this season at step five following relegation from the NPL (Division One West) last time out.

A lot of credit goes to the coaching staff of Chris Herbert and Steve Burr for getting the right players in at the start of the season and building a positive culture.

The Greens feel like a team that could really challenge in the play offs backed by a passionate away following. It’s going to be difficult with away trips to Atherstone and potentially Shifnal, but they have a chance if it all clicks.

OJM have had a brilliant season with a top half finish following promotion from step six last season.

To have only thirteen losses from thirty-four matches is impressive in their first season at this level.

It feels like a team that has the potential to build and challenge for the play offs next season if it all goes right during the summer.              
FT score: OJM Black Country 0-2 1874 Northwich

Man of the match: Ben Guest (1874 Northwich)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League