FOR the fourth time this season 1874 Northwich require a replay to settle a cup tie, writes Garry Clarke.

This follows Saturday's 1-1 draw with Congleton Town at St Luke’s Barton Stadium in the second qualifying round of the Buildbase FA Vase on Saturday.

Not even 30 minutes of extra time could separate the sides, so they will meet again tomorrow at Booth Street for the right to visit Irlam in the First Round Proper on Saturday, October 21.

1874 had to come from behind, though the Bears' advantage was shortlived.

Emini Adegbenro put the visitors ahead in the 36th minute, while Jake Parker levelled three minutes later.

1874 started the brighter with Paul Connor forcing Congleton defender Jonah O’Reilly to turn a low cross towards his own goal in the fourth minute.

Goalkeeper Andy Jones came to his side's rescue, turning the ball around the post for a corner.

1874 kept up the pressure in the opening minutes, forcing several corners, but it was former 1874 player Neil Chappell, now captaining the Bears, who went closest to opening the scoring.

In the 10th minute he picked up a loose ball 20 yards from goal and launched a first-time shot goalwards.

1874 goalkeeper Greg Hall spectacularly flew through the air to tip his former teammate’s effort over the bar.

Ten minutes later Hall recovered well to save bravely at the feet of Tom Morris, after the Congleton man had intercepted his poor clearance.

However, Hall could not prevent the visitors from taking the lead.

Declan Fletcher rounded the 1874 back four and fired a low cross from the right across the face of 1874’s goal where Adegbenro was on hand to score from close range.

But when Adam Whitlock drilled a corner low into a packed penalty area, Jake Parker – surrounded by static defenders – turned the ball into the net to leave the sides all square again.

1874 enjoyed a greater share of possession and attacking play in the first half but after the break Congleton’s more direct style enabled them to gain the upper hand.

Adegbenro went close to notching a second goal five minutes into the second half, flicking a Morris cross inches wide of the post.

Five minutes later Martin Hall delivered a dangerous cross into 1874’s area from the right flank, and, with Matt Farnworth closing in, Hall palmed the ball away to safety.

On the hour mark, Whitlock battled to win the ball from Chappell before playing a pass into the path of Scott McGowan who rounded the keeper and saw his shot from an acute angle fly across the face of the goal and inches wide of the far post.

Fletcher blazed a shot high and wide after a good run by Jason Carey before, with just two minutes left on the clock, Parker delivered a cross into the Congleton area which found Whitlock unmarked. The ball bounced off Whitlock’s chest, Jones reacted first to scoop up the ball to take the tie into extra time.

The opening minutes of extra time saw play switch from end to end without either side looking like scoring.

1874 gained control towards the end of the first half.

Jones saved well to deny Sam Hind and McGowan, who was joined by Kyle Riley in shooting narrowly wide of the target.

Jones was also kept busy in the final five minutes, tipping a Riley header over the bar and saving a Kazim Waite-Jackson shot before pulling off a point-blank save in the last minute to deny McGowan.

1874: Hall (GK), Connor, L Jackson, Pritchard, Meadowcroft, Parker (Waite-Jackson 113), Whitlock, M Woolley, McGowan, Hind, Beadle (Riley 70). Subs not used: Lever, Woods, Mitchell.

Attendance: 313.