Emirates FA Cup 3rd Qual. Round replay - Ossett Town 0 1874 Northwich 0 (AET - Ossett win 5-4 on penalties)
Tue 3rd October 2017 | FA Challenge Cup | By Ian Templeman
1874 Northwich's Emirates FA Cup dream is over, after losing in a penalty shoot out against Ossett Town in the Third Qualifying Round replay at Ingfield.
After a last gasp equaliser at the weekend earned them a second chance, 1874 once again matched up well to their Evo-Stik League opponents.
But with neither side managing to break the deadlock after extra time, penalties were needed to decide the tie, and Ossett's Sean Ripley broke the visitors' hearts with the winning spot kick in the resulting shoot out.
1874 Northwich joint-manager Paul Bowyer was understandably disappointed after the game, but paid tribute both the players and the fans who made the trip up to West Yorkshire.
"It's the worst way to lose, but we did amazingly well to get to this stage of the competition, and we played well tonight in spells and can be proud of how we performed.
"We took a full coach load of fans tonight and they were absolutely amazing, to get that many up here on a Tuesday night is something else.
"We've had some great days and great results in the competition, but this was a horrible way to go out.
"We had some great chances towards the end, where on another day we would have put them away.
"There's a massive belief among the lads about how well we can play and what we can do, so there have been lots of positives in the way we have been playing. So we just have to take that on now and make sure we are right for Saturday, and play like we can play".
In what was a keenly contested game throughout, Ossett began well, enjoying the better of the early stages, and had two decent chances in the opening ten minutes.
But as the half wore on, 1874 worked their way back into the game, although it wasn't until the stroke of half time that they produced their best chance, when Scott McGowan was teed up by Parker on the edge of the box, but dragged a left footed shot wide of goal.
The opening 15 minutes of the second half saw play swing from end to end, and early chances for McGowan and Parker lifted the hopes of the visitors.
But Ossett always looked dangerous, with skipper Alex Peterson and Kai Hancock causing problems for the 1874 defence.
However, as the game moved into the closing stages, Scott McGowan had two great chances to win the game for the Greens.
With eight minutes left, he got on the end of Jackson’s cross but shot over the bar from 10 yards, and then in stoppage time he was denied by a fine save from Ossett keeper Leigh Overton.
Ossett had the better of the opening period of extra time, with 1874 keeper Greg Hall being called on to make two good saves, and straight after the restart, Paul Connor's goal line clearance kept the scoresheet blank.
But by the end of 120 minutes, neither side had broken the deadlock, and it had to be penalties to decide the tie.
Both sides converted four out of the opening five penalties, and in the sudden death shoot out Ossett's Sean Ripley stuck the winning spot kick to send his side through to the Fourth Qualifying Round, and a tie at Solihull Moors.
Emirates FA Cup 3rd Qual. Round replay - Ossett Town 0 1874 Northwich 0 (AET - Ossett win 5-4 on penalties)
Tue 3rd October 2017 | FA Challenge Cup
By Ian Templeman
1874 Northwich's Emirates FA Cup dream is over, after losing in a penalty shoot out against Ossett Town in the Third Qualifying Round replay at Ingfield.
After a last gasp equaliser at the weekend earned them a second chance, 1874 once again matched up well to their Evo-Stik League opponents.
But with neither side managing to break the deadlock after extra time, penalties were needed to decide the tie, and Ossett's Sean Ripley broke the visitors' hearts with the winning spot kick in the resulting shoot out.
1874 Northwich joint-manager Paul Bowyer was understandably disappointed after the game, but paid tribute both the players and the fans who made the trip up to West Yorkshire.
"It's the worst way to lose, but we did amazingly well to get to this stage of the competition, and we played well tonight in spells and can be proud of how we performed.
"We took a full coach load of fans tonight and they were absolutely amazing, to get that many up here on a Tuesday night is something else.
"We've had some great days and great results in the competition, but this was a horrible way to go out.
"We had some great chances towards the end, where on another day we would have put them away.
"There's a massive belief among the lads about how well we can play and what we can do, so there have been lots of positives in the way we have been playing. So we just have to take that on now and make sure we are right for Saturday, and play like we can play".
In what was a keenly contested game throughout, Ossett began well, enjoying the better of the early stages, and had two decent chances in the opening ten minutes.
But as the half wore on, 1874 worked their way back into the game, although it wasn't until the stroke of half time that they produced their best chance, when Scott McGowan was teed up by Parker on the edge of the box, but dragged a left footed shot wide of goal.
The opening 15 minutes of the second half saw play swing from end to end, and early chances for McGowan and Parker lifted the hopes of the visitors.
But Ossett always looked dangerous, with skipper Alex Peterson and Kai Hancock causing problems for the 1874 defence.
However, as the game moved into the closing stages, Scott McGowan had two great chances to win the game for the Greens.
With eight minutes left, he got on the end of Jackson’s cross but shot over the bar from 10 yards, and then in stoppage time he was denied by a fine save from Ossett keeper Leigh Overton.
Ossett had the better of the opening period of extra time, with 1874 keeper Greg Hall being called on to make two good saves, and straight after the restart, Paul Connor's goal line clearance kept the scoresheet blank.
But by the end of 120 minutes, neither side had broken the deadlock, and it had to be penalties to decide the tie.
Both sides converted four out of the opening five penalties, and in the sudden death shoot out Ossett's Sean Ripley stuck the winning spot kick to send his side through to the Fourth Qualifying Round, and a tie at Solihull Moors.
