Shifnal Town v 1874 Northwich (Premier Division, play off final)

​Shifnal were looking to gain promotion into the Northern Premier League with a win in the play off final yesterday. The Shropshire side have been one of the standout teams in the premier division this season and were looking to beat 1874 Northwich for a place in step four.  

Their home form has been impressive with 14 wins from 18 matches and only eleven goals conceded going into yesterday’s match. The mid-season signings of Sam Fitzgerald and Kyle Byrne have made a notable difference for the Reds and helped them to push on from last season’s 9th place finish.

Manager Connor Patterson has turned them into a resolute side with the likes of Jack Rowley and Bradley Maslen-Jones having impressive seasons at the back with only 29 goals conceded in both the league and play off matches across 24/25.      

1874 Northwich were looking to build on last weekend’s momentum building 1-0 win over Atherstone Town with a statement result against Shifnal to return to step four. The Cheshire side have been competitive at step five this season to finish comfortably in the play off places. Their away record has been impressive with twelve wins from eighteen matches in both the league and play offs to give the away supporters hope of an upset yesterday.

The coaching staff of Chris Herbert and Steve Burr have done a brilliant job of rebuilding the squad following last season’s struggles in the NPL (Division One West). The back three of Matt Fenton, Mark Jones and Tom Morris have been reliable at the back and the likes of Eden Bailey and Joel Jones have offered an attacking threat up front.

The Greens were just one match away from promotion and bought along a notable away following yesterday to cheer them on. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line-up for Shifnal featured Andy Wycherley starting in goal and Kyle Bennett captaining the team from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Sam Fitzgerald playing up front and being supported by Brad Bood and Kyle Byrne on the wings.    

There were no changes from their semi-final match against Brocton last weekend.

1874’s starting line up included Jack Atkinson starting in goal and Matt Fenton captaining the team as part of a back three. The formation looked like a 3-5-2 with a front two of Eden Bailey and Shaun Weaver being supported by Jacson Coppack in the number ten role.

There were two changes from their semi-final match against Atherstone last weekend with Chris McCann coming into the team and playing in central midfield alongside Matt Woolley. 

​First Half

The match got off to a lively start with chances for both sides. Tom Morris had a header go wide of the back post for 1874 in the visitor’s first attacking move of the game. That was followed by Sam Fitzgerald racing through on goal before having a shot well saved by Jack Atkinson within the space of a few minutes.  

The play off final settled down after that with both sides looking well organised at the back. There was a good chance for 1874 Northwich to take the lead when Jacson Coppack played a good ball into the box that found Eden Bailey at the front post. The Northwich striker had his header saved by Andy Wycherley in the Shifnal goal to keep it 0-0 after 15 minutes.

​Shifnal were threatening from a couple of set pieces into the box and found the breakthrough when a well worked corner caught the visitors out. A good ball at the back post found Bradley Maslen-Jones who flicked the ball on and led to a handball from Shaun Weaver for a penalty.

Sam Fitzgerald stepped up and took a composed spot kick into the bottom right corner for 1-0 on 19 minutes. It felt like a crucial moment in the match and Shifnal did not look back.

1874 Northwich were working hard throughout the first half and searching for a way back into the match. Matt Fenton was reading the danger well at the back to give them a chance at 1-0 down with Eden Bailey making some promising runs into the final third.

Shifnal looked organised off the ball and were doing well to limit the attacking threat of the visitors. Jack Rowley was having a brilliant game at centre back and helping to take the pressure off the Reds with Kyle Bennett breaking up the play from holding midfield.

The visitors were slightly fortunate to have eleven men on the half hour mark when it looked like Tom Morris stamped out at Brad Bood and was shown a yellow card. None the less, the Greens had a chance to see the first half out to stay in the match at 1-0 down.

Shifnal had the momentum in the final fifteen minutes and were pressing for a second goal to give themselves some breathing space. Sam Fitzgerald made a brilliant run into the box before having a shot saved by Jack Atkinson in the 45th minute.

The Shropshire side found the important second goal in the final stages of the first half when Kyle Byrne made an inspired run down the left before cutting inside and playing a well weighted ball to Brad Bood who got into the box before finishing into the bottom left corner for 2-0. It was a quality move from Shifnal and arguably the highlight of this year’s play off final.

Second half

The second half came down to whether 1874 Northwich could find a way back into the play off final and breakdown one of the best defences in the league. Shifnal were content with playing on the break at 2-0 up which worked well, and they still offered a threat up front.

There was an early chance for the Reds when Brad Bood cut inside from the right-hand side before firing a shot wide of the left-hand post.

There was a good chance for 1874 to pull a goal back when a good corner into the box found Chris McCann who headed over the bar in the 59th minute.

Brad Bood and Kyle Byrne were linking up well for Shifnal throughout the second half and stretching the 1874 Northwich defence. A good ball from Brad Bood created some space for Kyle Byrne down the left who cut inside before firing a shot wide which could have sealed it for Shifnal.

The visitors were threatening from a couple of corners into the box and had another decent chance when Matt Fenton found some space at the back post before putting his header wide on 62 minutes.

Kyle Byrne had the best chance of the second half for Shifnal when a brilliant ball across goal from substitute Isaac Phillips found him in the box. Jack Atkinson did a good job of closing down the angle in the Northwich goal and saved Kyle Byrne’s shot to give the visitors a glimmer on hope with twenty minutes to go.  

The best chance for 1874 came when a well worked free kick into the box found Matt Fenton who put his header across goal. Eden Bailey couldn’t quite connect with it to send it goalwards for 2-1.

The play off final gradually came to an end in the final twenty minutes with not much happening in front of goal. The tracking back from Kyle Bennett and Kevin Monteiro was brilliant for Shifnal to break up the play and stop promising 1874 attacks throughout the second half.

Full Time

Shifnal played to their strengths in the play off final. They took their chances well and saw the match out for a huge win.

They stepped up to the pressure from 1874 yesterday and put in a professional performance to get the win and seal promotion to step four. The Reds defended brilliantly and took their chances when it mattered to get over the line.

It’s a brilliant achievement for the club and fully deserved following a long season at step five.    

FT score: Shifnal Town 2-0 1874 Northwich

Man of the match: Jack Rowley (Shifnal Town)

Attendance: 1,067

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League