1874 Northwich v Thatcham Town: FA Vase talking points

1874 Northwich won’t play again in the FA Vase this season, although the memories of a run that took them to the brink of an appearance at Wembley will last.

They played 11 games, starting with a frantic first qualifying round encounter with Vauxhall Motors that went to extra time, to reach the last four of a competition that attracted a total of 619 entries.

That really takes some doing.

Of course it means too, at least initially, that the pain caused by exiting at the semi-finals stage is acute.

Thatcham deserve the fullest of praise; they won both meetings between the teams, and are now unbeaten in their past 29 league and cup matches.

It will take a fine opponent to prevent the Kingfishers from taking home the trophy.

• 1874 2-3 Thatcham: match report

When a plan comes together

Captain Tom Melledew said afterwards that Thatcham’s plan was to score the first goal at Wincham Park, and quickly if they could, to leave 1874 playing catch-up.

It was clear from their jubilant reaction to Gavin James’ opener, assisted by a fortuitous deflection, that the start they did have was better than even they had expected.

When he made it 2-0, and 3-0 on aggregate, they never looked likely to cede control of the tie.

1874 had a similar aim, and had they scored first then the dynamic would have been different.

They trailed 2-1 by the break – and so needed two more to win, just as they had at the outset – but all calculations felt futile from the moment Shane Cooper-Clark drilled in a brilliant third goal for Thatcham.

• For us, it was perfect says Thatcham skipper

1874 Northwich captain Matthew Woolley rises to meet Taylor Kennerley's corner, and score to make it 3-2, at Wincham Park on Saturday. Picture: Ian Dutton

A false start, followed by another slow one

So many people wanted to see the semi-final unfold that kick-off was put back 15 minutes.

A queue outside Wincham Park stretched out of the car park and down a thoroughfare that connects the ground with Chapel Street.

It meant the players, primed to peak for 3pm, had to come back out to complete a second warm-up.

1874 Northwich co-manager Wayne Goodison refused afterwards to use that as mitigation for the home team’s slow start though.

James’ first goal, hammered past goalkeeper Greg Hall in the blink of an eye after Cooper-Clark’s free-kick squirmed into his path of a defensive wall, was a slap in the face.

The forward repeated the trick, this time at the second attempt, when Tom Moran’s header landed at his feet from a corner.

Only 22 minutes had gone, and so to had 1874’s chance.

In praise of Ryan Jackson

Goodison and Paul Bowyer rewarded the wide man, who impressed as a substitute during the first leg before bagging a brace during a midweek win against Barnoldswick, with a start in place of Taylor Kennerley.

They were wholly vindicated.

Jackson won the penalty from which 1874, albeit briefly, flickered into life towards the end of the first-half.

The 23-year-old’s direct dribbling, and aggressive running, meant he posed the most potent threat to Thatcham’s defence throughout the 90 minutes.

It has been a gruelling path to recovery for the former Rudheath regular, who returned earlier this season from a lengthy lay-off to recover from knee surgery.

He is starting now to show glimpses of the player that impressed so much by scoring 15 goals in 40 starts during the 2015-2016 campaign.

Ryan Jackson waits for support from a teammate during the second-half of 1874 Northwich's FA Vase semi-final meeting with Thatcham Town on Saturday. Picture: Ian Dutton

Where do 1874 go next?

In the short-term, to Bootle on Monday night for a head-to-head with City of Liverpool.

That leaves next to no time for reflection, and Goodison told the Guardian following Saturday’s game that may not be able to gauge the players’ reaction until later in the week.

Their fixture list is so busy – a total of 22 North West Counties League games and at least one knockout tie – that they are almost compelled to respond straightaway.

They sit eighth in the Premier Division table before kick-off against the Purps, and with a 26-point gap to second-placed Widnes.

However they have 13 games in hand on them.

With a second promotion place up for grabs, there is plenty still to play for.

• Goodison: After a fall, we'll feel pride