1 1874 Northwich are top of the table. Can they stay there?

A DRAW on Tuesday, when Atherton Collieries lost at Bootle, was enough to send 1874 Northwich to the North West Counties League Premier Division summit.

Ian Street will now challenge his players to stay there.

They are not used to being front-runners, so it’s difficult to predict how they’ll respond.

There is evidence this version of 1874 is made of stern stuff though; they did not capitulate following Neil Chappell’s controversial dismissal during the first half against Runcorn Linnets.

Instead they regrouped, defending diligently after half time.

It is a compliment to say their hosts’ biggest threat during the second half was from set pieces – the source of an equaliser scored by Steve Foster.

They have lost similarly stormy encounters in the past so to share the spoils, in the process extending an unbeaten run in the league to seven matches, is reason for cheer.

2 We need to talk about Neil Chappell. Again.

Before being shown a red card with less than half an hour played, Neil Chappell’s position on the right of a four-man midfield had already made him stand out.

He was stationed there to help full-back Paul Connor subdue Linnets attacker Paul Shanley, something they succeeded in doing.

Indeed, the former Runcorn Town man has still to score against 1874.

The visitors sacrificed balance, and natural width, as a result.

Chappell was sent off on 28 minutes after referee Alan Bennett judged his sliding challenge on Chris Lawton to have used excessive force.

He did not win the ball, which was touched first by the Runcorn defender.

Street said afterwards, without having seen a replay, that he thought the match official had got it ‘spot on’.

Chappell, who now faces a lengthy ban as punishment for being ordered off twice in the first six weeks of the campaign, disagrees strongly.

3 1874 end a game at Millbank Linnets Stadium with 10 men. Again.

1874 have collected four red cards from three visits to Linnets since the club’s formation.

Danny Thomas was sent off last season during a 2-1 defeat, while Neil Chappell and Matthew Ward both saw red on a first trip there during a 3-2 reverse in February 2015.

Chappell again walked this week.

However Linnets have had a single player dismissed in the teams’ five meetings.

“It’s always difficult when we play here, and they make it so,” reflected Street afterwards.

“Every time we’ve come, that’s what happens. We expect it.”

On this occasion, 1874 assumed control after half time despite being a man down.

They took the lead as well.

Street added: “I wasn’t happy with the first 15 minutes; we didn’t get to grips at all with them in the middle of the field.

“We sorted that out though.

“I’d probably have taken a scruffy win, or a goalless draw, had you offered that to me at half time.

“In the circumstances, I felt we could have held on.”

4 Brilliant Bailey is on target again

Tom Bailey’s ninth goal of the campaign, when he diverted substitute Stuart Wellstead’s driven cross past Linnets goalkeeper Tom Hunt, put the visitors in front.

The former Glossop man thought he’d done exactly that in the early stages too, striking a rising shot into the roof of the net before his celebrations were halted by a linesman’s flag.

Incorrectly, according to 1874 manager Ian Street.

After Scott McGowan was withdrawn at the interval and with Sam Hind sacrificing himself for the team to help full-back Matthew Russell deal with Linnets winger Bevan Burey, Bailey posed a solo attacking threat.

He did so with great endeavour before tiredness led to Jack Woolley taking his place in the final few minutes.

If 1874 supporters had been worried about how their team would replace the goals scored last term by Matthew Beadle, Michael Brandon and Ryan Jackson, they need not be any more.

5 In praise of Linnets

Michael Ellison was Runcorn’s captain on the field during a 2-1 victory against 1874 in April.

Named as manager shortly before the start of the season following Joey Dunn’s surprise departure, he wasn’t able to name a single one of his teammates that day as a starter for Tuesday’s meeting.

Kyle Hamid and Antony Hickey are still at Millbank Linnets Stadium, but neither were available.

That alone is an indication of how much change there has been since the end of last term, so to be on their own seven-match unbeaten run – started after a derby defeat against Runcorn Town – and only four points from top spot is reason to give credit to the rookie manager.

Should 1874 Northwich consider their old foes as contenders again for promotion this season? On Tuesday’s evidence, without doubt.

Linnets moved the ball better, and posed more of a threat, before Chappell’s dismissal.

They toiled to adjust afterwards though, and Mark Houghton was isolated in attack until Foster’s introduction.