1874 Northwich lift the Macron Challenge Cup
Sat 4th May 2019 | Macron Cup | By Ian Templeman
An 87th minute goal from Aaron Smith clinched a 1-0 victory for 1874 Northwich over City of Liverpool in the Macron Challenge Cup Final at the J. Davidson Stadium in Altrincham.
On a sunny afternoon, a close and keenly contested game looked for a long time like it would end goalless.
But as the second half wore on, 1874 began to enjoy the bulk of the possession, and came close several times before Smith, who joined the club in March after a spell at Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premiership, struck the decisive goal from close range.
The Greens still had some nervy moments to overcome though, as Paul Williams hit the bar and Danny Dalton was denied by a fine save from 1874 keeper Tony Aghayere as City of Liverpool piled on late and last gasp pressure.
But when the final whistle sounded, the celebrations could begin, and the name of 1874 Northwich is now added to the list of league honours winners for the first time.
Amidst the jubilation after the game, there was an emotional moment when the Greens supporters began chanting the name of former Chairman Paul Stockton, a driving force behind the club from its formation until his untimely death in December 2017.
It was a fitting way to round off an afternoon that Paul would have undoubtedly have enjoyed, and the players and supporters of both sides deserve credit for the way in which they played their part in an occasion that was a fine advert for our league.
The first half was an evenly matched affair, with clear cut chances relatively few and far between.
The first of those arrived on 12 minutes when a cross from 1874's Mike Koral found Taylor Kennerley in space, and after chesting the ball down he volleyed just wide.
At the other end, City of Liverpool's Tom Peterson had the ball in the net, finishing with a low shot into the bottom corner after neat build up play down the left, but the Purps celebrations were halted by the assistant referee, who spotted that Peterson had strayed offside.
It was, though, a half that neither side really took control of, despite both enjoying an equal share of possession and territory.
After the break, however, it was a different story as 1874 began to take control.
The opening 15 minutes were dominated by the Greens, with Mike Koral, Aaron Smith and Sam Hare all having chances, and just after the hour a long range effort from Smith almost caught out Ascroft in the City of Liverpool goal, but the keeper managed to push the shot to safety with the assistance of the post.
Ascroft became increasingly busy as 1874 began to turn the screw, with the keeper being tested by Koral and Smith before having to react quickly to gather a cracking 25 yarder from Matt Russell that was arrowing into the bottom corner of the net until Ascroft made a smart save low down at the post.
With 17 minutes remaining, the increasingly impressive Aaron Smith was fouled on the edge of the box, and taking the free kick himself, he curled a delightful shot over the wall that was heading for the top corner of the net before Ascroft tipped the ball over the bar at full stretch.
But Ascroft was finally beaten three minutes from time, and it was Smith who broke the deadlock.
Initially it seemed the chance had gone, when Smith failed to connect with a cross driven low into the box, but when the loose ball was gathered by Kennerley, his cut back found Smith in the six yard box and the midfielder reacted quickly to tuck the ball under Ascroft from close range.
With less than three minutes remaining, it was a big blow to deliver, but City of Liverpool's response was immediate.
Straight from the kick off, a Purps attack led to a Francis Foy cross being headed out into the path of Craig Cairns, whose well struck shot was deflected for a corner.
When the corner was delivered, City of Liverpool centre half Paul Williams was desperately close to pulling his side back level, when he rose to power in a header that clipped the top of the crossbar with Aghayere in the 1874 goal beaten.
But deep into stoppage time, Aghayere made a crucial save to seal victory for his side, when he denied City of Liverpool's substitute Danny Dalton by parrying a shot and gathering the ball at the second attempt, moments before the referee blew for full time.
A good sporting game was rounded off nicely moments after the final whistle, when the 1874 Northwich players went down to acknowledge the City of Liverpool fans at the far end of the ground, and the Purps supporters responded by warmly applauding the winners, and 1874 supporters did likewise at the other end.
1874 Northwich joint-manager Wayne Goodison praised the team's performance afterwards.
"I thought we were the better side throughout. I thought from minute one we settled into our game, and it's credit to us that they changed their shape two or three times to get into the game.
"We felt that if we hadn't won in normal time, and that if it had gone to penalties and we had lost, it would have been a difficult one. I think we deserved to win and they agree with us.
"We said before the game it was about the players getting a reward for this year, and for the fans, because they have stuck by us.
"It was always going to be a tight game. People would look at the first game of the season and see 6-3 and think there would be goals, but it was never going to be like that.
"We knew it might boil to us taking the chance when it came, and fortunately we took it.
"We think we've played all right over the last couple of months of the season, and we've got something to show for it.
"We've beaten a good side today, they are the champions and they are not champions for nothing.
"Last year, we kind of fell over the line because of the number of games we played, and it had a knock on effect because the start of this season wasn't great.
"This doesn't mask that we have had a disappointing league campaign, we all know that. But when you win something, like a competition like this which is a tough one to win, it should give us confidence going into the summer".
Teams:
1874 Northwich: Tony Aghayere, Sam Hind, Matt Russell, Jack Pritchard, Lee Jackson, Aaron Smith, Mike Koral (Callum Gardner 82), Matt Woolley (Captain), Scott McGowan, Sam Hare, Taylor Kennerley.
Subs not used: James Ormrod, Jack Lever, Paul Connor, Kyle Phipps.
City of Liverpool: Ben Ascroft, Luke Denson (Captain), Francis Foy, Kevin McEllin, Paul Williams, Anthony Brown, Joe Holt, Jack Hazlehurst (Danny Dalton 89), Craig Cairns, Tom Peterson (Jamie McDonald 74), John McGrath (Karl Clair 60).
Sub not used: David Forbes
Referee: Peter Shacklady
Assistants: Emmanuel Edet, Ian McGuiness
Fourth Official: Darren Rogers
Attendance: 1100
1874 Northwich lift the Macron Challenge Cup
Sat 4th May 2019 | Macron Cup
By Ian Templeman
An 87th minute goal from Aaron Smith clinched a 1-0 victory for 1874 Northwich over City of Liverpool in the Macron Challenge Cup Final at the J. Davidson Stadium in Altrincham.
On a sunny afternoon, a close and keenly contested game looked for a long time like it would end goalless.
But as the second half wore on, 1874 began to enjoy the bulk of the possession, and came close several times before Smith, who joined the club in March after a spell at Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premiership, struck the decisive goal from close range.
The Greens still had some nervy moments to overcome though, as Paul Williams hit the bar and Danny Dalton was denied by a fine save from 1874 keeper Tony Aghayere as City of Liverpool piled on late and last gasp pressure.
But when the final whistle sounded, the celebrations could begin, and the name of 1874 Northwich is now added to the list of league honours winners for the first time.
Amidst the jubilation after the game, there was an emotional moment when the Greens supporters began chanting the name of former Chairman Paul Stockton, a driving force behind the club from its formation until his untimely death in December 2017.
It was a fitting way to round off an afternoon that Paul would have undoubtedly have enjoyed, and the players and supporters of both sides deserve credit for the way in which they played their part in an occasion that was a fine advert for our league.
The first half was an evenly matched affair, with clear cut chances relatively few and far between.
The first of those arrived on 12 minutes when a cross from 1874's Mike Koral found Taylor Kennerley in space, and after chesting the ball down he volleyed just wide.
At the other end, City of Liverpool's Tom Peterson had the ball in the net, finishing with a low shot into the bottom corner after neat build up play down the left, but the Purps celebrations were halted by the assistant referee, who spotted that Peterson had strayed offside.
It was, though, a half that neither side really took control of, despite both enjoying an equal share of possession and territory.
After the break, however, it was a different story as 1874 began to take control.
The opening 15 minutes were dominated by the Greens, with Mike Koral, Aaron Smith and Sam Hare all having chances, and just after the hour a long range effort from Smith almost caught out Ascroft in the City of Liverpool goal, but the keeper managed to push the shot to safety with the assistance of the post.
Ascroft became increasingly busy as 1874 began to turn the screw, with the keeper being tested by Koral and Smith before having to react quickly to gather a cracking 25 yarder from Matt Russell that was arrowing into the bottom corner of the net until Ascroft made a smart save low down at the post.
With 17 minutes remaining, the increasingly impressive Aaron Smith was fouled on the edge of the box, and taking the free kick himself, he curled a delightful shot over the wall that was heading for the top corner of the net before Ascroft tipped the ball over the bar at full stretch.
But Ascroft was finally beaten three minutes from time, and it was Smith who broke the deadlock.
Initially it seemed the chance had gone, when Smith failed to connect with a cross driven low into the box, but when the loose ball was gathered by Kennerley, his cut back found Smith in the six yard box and the midfielder reacted quickly to tuck the ball under Ascroft from close range.
With less than three minutes remaining, it was a big blow to deliver, but City of Liverpool's response was immediate.
Straight from the kick off, a Purps attack led to a Francis Foy cross being headed out into the path of Craig Cairns, whose well struck shot was deflected for a corner.
When the corner was delivered, City of Liverpool centre half Paul Williams was desperately close to pulling his side back level, when he rose to power in a header that clipped the top of the crossbar with Aghayere in the 1874 goal beaten.
But deep into stoppage time, Aghayere made a crucial save to seal victory for his side, when he denied City of Liverpool's substitute Danny Dalton by parrying a shot and gathering the ball at the second attempt, moments before the referee blew for full time.
A good sporting game was rounded off nicely moments after the final whistle, when the 1874 Northwich players went down to acknowledge the City of Liverpool fans at the far end of the ground, and the Purps supporters responded by warmly applauding the winners, and 1874 supporters did likewise at the other end.
1874 Northwich joint-manager Wayne Goodison praised the team's performance afterwards.
"I thought we were the better side throughout. I thought from minute one we settled into our game, and it's credit to us that they changed their shape two or three times to get into the game.
"We felt that if we hadn't won in normal time, and that if it had gone to penalties and we had lost, it would have been a difficult one. I think we deserved to win and they agree with us.
"We said before the game it was about the players getting a reward for this year, and for the fans, because they have stuck by us.
"It was always going to be a tight game. People would look at the first game of the season and see 6-3 and think there would be goals, but it was never going to be like that.
"We knew it might boil to us taking the chance when it came, and fortunately we took it.
"We think we've played all right over the last couple of months of the season, and we've got something to show for it.
"We've beaten a good side today, they are the champions and they are not champions for nothing.
"Last year, we kind of fell over the line because of the number of games we played, and it had a knock on effect because the start of this season wasn't great.
"This doesn't mask that we have had a disappointing league campaign, we all know that. But when you win something, like a competition like this which is a tough one to win, it should give us confidence going into the summer".
Teams:
1874 Northwich: Tony Aghayere, Sam Hind, Matt Russell, Jack Pritchard, Lee Jackson, Aaron Smith, Mike Koral (Callum Gardner 82), Matt Woolley (Captain), Scott McGowan, Sam Hare, Taylor Kennerley.
Subs not used: James Ormrod, Jack Lever, Paul Connor, Kyle Phipps.
City of Liverpool: Ben Ascroft, Luke Denson (Captain), Francis Foy, Kevin McEllin, Paul Williams, Anthony Brown, Joe Holt, Jack Hazlehurst (Danny Dalton 89), Craig Cairns, Tom Peterson (Jamie McDonald 74), John McGrath (Karl Clair 60).
Sub not used: David Forbes
Referee: Peter Shacklady
Assistants: Emmanuel Edet, Ian McGuiness
Fourth Official: Darren Rogers
Attendance: 1100
