Post by hatter_in_macc on Mar 9, 2016 16:07:12 GMT
Afternoon, all.
My report from last night's Vic-tory follows... and will be appearing on a COWS near you shortly.
Happy reading!
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COUNTY v NORTHWICH VICTORIA (CHESHIRE SENIOR CUP, SEMI-FINAL): MATCH REPORT (08/03/2016)
By Hatter in Macc
Two Spots Of Bother For Northwich, As Hatters Are Victoria-s!
The Hatters further cemented the foundations of ‘Fortress Edgeley’ - by virtue of a fourth successive win on home turf in all competitions - and also, in reaching the final of the Cheshire Senior Cup, earned themselves a real chance of claiming some silverware before the season’s end.
They now await the outcome of next Monday’s semi-final between Chester and Tranmere before knowing who stands between them and lifting the trophy. But confidence will be high, following another highly professional performance in this term’s competition that led to the elimination of Northwich Victoria.
The Vics can boast an excellent CSC record - having reached five, and won three, of the last nine finals. And Jim Gannon sounded a clear declaration of intent, borne out of both respect for his former club and an ambition to win the Cup, by naming a starting eleven unchanged from that which had taken to the field at Tamworth on Saturday.
Ryan Ellison was named as a County substitute, following his return from a loan-spell at Witton Albion. And the Northwich starters included three former Hatters, in Lewis King, Scott Duxbury and Iain Howard.
Playing to an audience of over five hundred concentrated in the Main Stand, the Hatters created the first chance of the evening when John Marsden - who had hitherto scored in each round of the tournament - drove a low shot from the edge of the box wide of the left post.
But there was no mistaking the same player’s aim after thirteen minutes, when, having noticed King - in a rather helpfully easy-to-spot, luminous lime green top - away from the visitors’ goal, and benefited from a misplaced clearance by giant defender, Cedric Kroll, Marsden stroked the loose ball into an empty net from thirty yards out.
County’s lead was doubled within another seven minutes - and following the award of a free kick five yards beyond the Northwich area for a foul on Richard Brodie. Tom Field’s set-piece delivery took a deflection into orbit, before falling kindly for Kay Odejayi to blast home from close range.
Jamie Menagh was next to try his luck - firing wide of the left upright after a County corner had only been half-cleared. And, shortly after the half-hour mark, the Vics had their first chances of note, when half-volleys by Howard and James Ball went their respective ways into the clutches of a diving Ian Ormson and high and wide of the Cheadle End goal.
With four minutes remaining before the break, the visitors had an even better opportunity to get themselves back in contention - and, given that half-time was looming, potentially to change the course of the game. Richard Bennett was brought to ground while flicking the ball past Ormson, and Referee, Tom Kirk, had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
But County’s Number One redeemed himself in spectacular fashion - diving to his left to keep out Howard’s penalty, and thereby (having also saved a spot-kick against Gainsborough less than two weeks previously) further enhancing his reputation as a dead-ball stopper from twelve yards.
HALF-TIME: County 2 (Marsden, 13; Odejayi, 20), Northwich 0.
The visitors might have felt down, but were clearly not contemplating being out, as the second half got underway - making all three substitutions within twenty minutes of the re-start. And one of the replacements, Josh Amis, promptly let rip with a first low drive that fizzed wide and another that was saved by Ormson.
The Hatters, however, also continued to press - going close through Marsden, who shot narrowly over on the turn from the edge of the box, and Brodie, whose swerving effort at a similar distance forced King to pull off a tricky catch.
County had already amassed a healthy corner-count during the evening when, with fewer than ten minutes left on the clock, it increased further following Menagh’s weaving run into the away-area to find George West, whose shot was parried around the left post by King.
Sean O’Hanlon’s head then connected with the resulting corner to score from close range - doubling his personal CSC goals-tally and putting County three ahead on the night.
And that was how the final scoreline would read - albeit not without a couple more moments of note…
Firstly, the Main Stand was treated to a touch of the old Gannon magic, as a loose ball headed out of play and towards the home dugout. Swiftly and seamlessly, the Manager rolled back the years by chesting the ball down and half-volleying it back onto the pitch. They do say you never lose it…!
And, a minute later, Danny Morton’s trip on Amis saw the Vics awarded a second penalty of the night. Amis did, at least, succeed where Howard and Gainsborough’s Simon Russell had failed, by sending Ormson the wrong way. Rather unfortunately for the Northwich substitute, however, his aim was askew, and his kick was blazed skywards towards the Railway End scoreboard.
FULL-TIME: County 3 (Marsden, 13; Odejayi, 20; O’Hanlon, 83), Northwich 0.
Team: Ormson, Morton, Roberts (Garvin, 71), Field, O’Hanlon, Smalley, Menagh, Odejayi (West, 80), Brodie, Marsden (Ellison, 75), Ledsham.
Unused Subs: Joyce, D Smith.
Man of the Match: Morton.
Attendance: 517.