Putting right a wrong

It was clear that Ian Street still felt bruised by previous meetings with AFC Liverpool when he urged his players to be brave before the latest meeting on Saturday afternoon.

Indeed, he had described his team’s performance in the return fixture, which ended in a resounding 3-1 reverse, as ‘cowardly’.

They were certainly not that in the latest instalment of a rivalry that had yielded only one victory for 1874 Northwich.

Tom Bailey’s second-half goal earned for them a deserved, if slender, success against hosts that had won four of their previous five league games.

“On another day, Liverpool might have pinched a goal,” mused Street.

“They’ve had the upper hand in our previous meetings, but I’m made up to have kept a clean sheet against them when they’ve been in such a good run of form and scoring freely.”

In praise of Mark Jones

1874’s defence was already the stingiest in the North West Counties League’s top flight before kick-off on Saturday.

Their latest shut-out, a ninth of the current campaign in the Premier Division, means they have conceded only 24 goals to date.

Mark Jones’ switch to the middle of defence makes them more secure than previously, and he barely broke sweat during a dominant display against Liverpool.

It’s a brave move by Street to move one of the best midfielders in the league from his favoured position, although it is easy to see why on this evidence.

Jones’ ability to read the game led to him making countless interceptions and blocks with either boot or head.

His leadership – he wore the captain’s armband with Matthew Woolley on the substitutes’ bench – also keeps Danny Thomas on his toes.

Change of shape

Adopting a 4-4-2 formation has brought dividend for 1874 in the form of maximum points from meetings with leaders Runcorn Town and then AFC Liverpool.

They have played 4-3-3 for a large part of the season, and appeared set to continue doing so following the recruitment of wide men Joe Woolley, Ryan Jackson and Tyler Edwards to flank Tom Bailey.

However two other arrivals, Sam Hare and Dahrius Waldron, have permitted Street to partner Scott McGowan with his top goal-scorer.

“We’ve not had the right personnel previously,” he said after Saturday’s game.

“I felt we were too open in the centre of the pitch earlier in the season, which is why I went with three lads in there.

“A lot of teams were setting up against us with a five-man midfield, and we risked being outnumbered.

“I’ve wanted to go with two up top, and I feel I can play that since Dahrius joined us.”

A tale of two number nines

In a game when two teams are evenly-matched, details often make the difference.

Tom Bailey, excellent outside the penalty area when linking with his teammates or when applying pressure to opponents in possession, was restricted to only glimpses of goal by Liverpool’s central defensive duo Jonathon Swatton and Michael White.

He still tucked away clinically the best chance he had though, securing maximum points for 1874 Northwich in the process.

Jason Carey, the Reds’ front man, has only eight goals to his name this season.

He led the line in the first half, but fluffed a close-range header after the interval when Jack Leamey picked him out.

The attacker drifted out wide in the second period, where he wasn’t nearly as effective.

On one occasion he delivered an enticing cross into the box that any striker, Bailey included, would have loved to attack.

Trouble is, Carey wasn’t there to profit.

Too many absences for AFC Liverpool?

As poorly as 1874 Northwich played in the first meeting, they could point to the absence of Ryan Jackson and Paul Connor through injury.

Ryan Mitchell and Neil Chappell also missed the game through suspension.

Liverpool could make a similar claim on Saturday, with left-back Josh Essery suspended and Kieron Breslen, Freddie Champion, John Dillon and Paul Speed all absent.

They held their own in the opening 45 minutes, only for Sam Hare and Dahrius Waldron to establish control for the visitors after the interval.

1874 created clearer chances, and goalkeeper Germano Mendes was employed far more often than his counterpart Greg Hall at the other end of the pitch.

Ian Street was also able to introduce Matthew Woolley as a substitute in midfield after Waldron was forced off with an injury.

“It’s nice to know that strength in depth is there,” said 1874’s manager.