1874 Northwich 0 Kidsgrove Athletic 3, match report

Having come from behind to snatch a point at Clitheroe, 1874 Northwich were unable to repeat the trick in their first home game in the NPL West losing 3-0 at Townfield against Kidsgrove Athletic.

1874 were made to pay for some sloppy defending in a poor first-half display by a clinical Kidsgrove attack.

They improved in the second half and enjoyed a greater share of possession, but were still unable to break down a well-organised team as they gave the ball away too cheaply.

A frantic opening quarter saw both sides try to assert themselves in a feisty encounter which was littered throughout with hefty challenges and petty fouls which stopped the game from flowing.

Kidsgrove almost took the lead in the 15th minute when Kieran Brown took advantage of a defensive mix-up to fire past Tony Aghayere. Fortunately for the Green and Blacks, Mark Jones was able to clear off the line.

Brown was not to be denied in the 23rd minute when another mix-up presented him with the chance to open the scoring.

Seven minutes later Brown was on target again, scoring from close range following more defensive mistakes.

The home side had few sights of the Kidsgrove goal while the visitors went close to adding to their tally before half time, with Will Whielden volleying over the bar and Jack Broomfield drawing a fine save from Aghayere.

After the break, Kidsgrove were content to soak up the pressure, pick off stray passes and hit on the counter attack.

1874 delivered several crosses and corners into the Kidsgrove area, which were all dealt with without causing too many problems as goalkeeper Kieran Harrison’s gloves were kept relatively clean.

The hosts had two shots on target in the first half from Taylor Kennerley and Mike Koral which were both comfortably saved, while in the second half a long range Scott McGowan effort whistled wide of the target.

With 1874 pushing more players forward in an attempt to salvage something from the game, their opponents punished them on the break.

Aghayere saved well to keep out a Jake Lovatt shot and Broomfield was denied by a good tackle by Jake Parker as he was about to shoot.

Kidsgrove were not to be denied their third goal and another misplaced pass was intercepted as the game entered stoppage time, allowing Lovatt to curl the ball into the top corner of the net from 30 yards.

1874 – Aghayere, Koral, L Jackson, Mitchell, Jones, Parker, Gardner (J Woolley) Ormrod, McGowan, Hare (Woods), Kennerley (Jackson). Subs not used Marrow, Russell.

Kidsgrove – Harrison, Byers, Bergwin, Bromfield, Gunnell, Winkle, Diskin (Urwin), Blake, Brown (Twford), Whieldon (J Lovatt), Adugyahfi. Subs not used Hickman, C Lovatt.