Mid-Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final - Northwich Victoria 2 1874 Northwich 0
Thu 11th April 2019 | County Cup Competitions | By Ian Templeman
Two second half goals earned Northwich Victoria a place in the final of the Mid-Cheshire Senior Cup.
Joel Brownhill opened the scoring for Vics from the penalty spot and substitute Jordan Darr added a spectacular second moments after entering the action, to set up a clash with fellow Premier Division side Winsford United.
In 2017, a Scott McGowan goal sealed a 1-0 win for 1874 over Vics in the final of the same competition, but this time Vics earned the bragging rights, collecting their second win over their local rivals in the space of three months to book their place in the final.
Vics manager Steve Wilkes was a happy man afterwards.
"I said the lads before the game that this was a bigger game than Chertsey (in the FA Vase) because we can't win the Vase but we can win the Mid-Cheshire", he said.
"We grew into the game, and didn't really play well for the first hour really, we were poor in eth first half and they got a rollicking at half time.
"But we were solid at the back and once we got the penalty the players managed the game well, and I think overall we were worthy winners.
"With 11 minutes to go, we thought if we put Jordan Darr on we could stretch them, and I haven't seen a better goal than his in non-league football for a long time.
"When the highlights are online, everyone should watch, it was a sublime finish worthy of winning any football match".
Despite the combination of a cup semi-final and a local derby, the game didn't immediately spark to life, and the first half was a lacklustre affair.
Both sides pretty much cancelled one another out and neither goalkeeper was ever seriously troubled during the opening 45 minutes.
After the break, it was 1874 who were the first to conjure up some efforts on goal worthy of note, with a Sam Hare shot and a Mark Jones header giving Vics keeper Danny Taberner some work to do.
But on 55 minutes it was Vics who hit the front, when 1874's Jack Pritchard was penalised in the box for a challenge on Dominic Craig that the referee deemed a penalty, and Joel Brownhill stepped up to fire home his 11th successful spot kick of the season.
1874 hit back and Aaron Smith set up Mark Jones for a header that went wide, before Smith himself saw an shot from outside the box miss the target.
With just over 10 minutes remaining, Vics manager Steve Wilkes introduced Jordan Darr as a substitute for Darryhl Mason, and Darr made an immediate impact by scoring an outstanding goal with his first touch of the ball.
Picking up a pass from Joel Brownhill, Darr flicked the ball up in the air and volleyed a shot on the turn from the edge of the box into the top corner of the net, to seal Vics' place in the final.
Mid-Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final - Northwich Victoria 2 1874 Northwich 0
Thu 11th April 2019 | County Cup Competitions
By Ian Templeman
Two second half goals earned Northwich Victoria a place in the final of the Mid-Cheshire Senior Cup.
Joel Brownhill opened the scoring for Vics from the penalty spot and substitute Jordan Darr added a spectacular second moments after entering the action, to set up a clash with fellow Premier Division side Winsford United.
In 2017, a Scott McGowan goal sealed a 1-0 win for 1874 over Vics in the final of the same competition, but this time Vics earned the bragging rights, collecting their second win over their local rivals in the space of three months to book their place in the final.
Vics manager Steve Wilkes was a happy man afterwards.
"I said the lads before the game that this was a bigger game than Chertsey (in the FA Vase) because we can't win the Vase but we can win the Mid-Cheshire", he said.
"We grew into the game, and didn't really play well for the first hour really, we were poor in eth first half and they got a rollicking at half time.
"But we were solid at the back and once we got the penalty the players managed the game well, and I think overall we were worthy winners.
"With 11 minutes to go, we thought if we put Jordan Darr on we could stretch them, and I haven't seen a better goal than his in non-league football for a long time.
"When the highlights are online, everyone should watch, it was a sublime finish worthy of winning any football match".
Despite the combination of a cup semi-final and a local derby, the game didn't immediately spark to life, and the first half was a lacklustre affair.
Both sides pretty much cancelled one another out and neither goalkeeper was ever seriously troubled during the opening 45 minutes.
After the break, it was 1874 who were the first to conjure up some efforts on goal worthy of note, with a Sam Hare shot and a Mark Jones header giving Vics keeper Danny Taberner some work to do.
But on 55 minutes it was Vics who hit the front, when 1874's Jack Pritchard was penalised in the box for a challenge on Dominic Craig that the referee deemed a penalty, and Joel Brownhill stepped up to fire home his 11th successful spot kick of the season.
1874 hit back and Aaron Smith set up Mark Jones for a header that went wide, before Smith himself saw an shot from outside the box miss the target.
With just over 10 minutes remaining, Vics manager Steve Wilkes introduced Jordan Darr as a substitute for Darryhl Mason, and Darr made an immediate impact by scoring an outstanding goal with his first touch of the ball.
Picking up a pass from Joel Brownhill, Darr flicked the ball up in the air and volleyed a shot on the turn from the edge of the box into the top corner of the net, to seal Vics' place in the final.
