Pete Tonge provides his detailed view on Vics' 2-1 home win against Congleton Town on Saturday...

VICS battled hard against Congleton and the conditions to grind out a deserved victory.

It was touch and go whether the match would continue at times with the ball occasionally not rolling freely in some areas due to the continuous rain.

However, both teams adapted and served up an entertaining game for the crowd.

Congleton got off to a great start when in just the third minute, Diskin played the ball into the veteran Tom Pope on the edge of the six-yard area. He then rounded Chris Cheetham and slid the ball home.

Undeterred by this setback, and showing admirable resilience after two resounding defeats, Vics pushed forward and both Jackson and Ryan Winder had efforts which Collinge had to deal with.

In the 10th minute, Winder came even closer to equalising as he fired in a free-kick from 22 yards out which struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced down onto (but not over) the goal-line with Collinge well beaten.

However, Vics were back on level terms just a minute later as Joe Camozzi stood the ball up to the back post where Ash Dunn beat his marker in the air to head the ball home from close range for his 10th goal of the season.

In the 16th minute, Aaron Bott beat the Vics offside trap down the right, and crossed the ball low to Arron Johns who should have done better than putting his shot wide from close range.

Vics then took the lead in the 32nd minute as they broke quickly, and the ball was played through to Matty Birchall who was one-on-one with keeper Collinge, and he duly made no mistake.

Despite Congleton having most of the ball until half time, they made little impact on a resolute Vics’ defence and in particular keeper Cheetham who was dominant dealing with corners and crosses, and the closest they came to an equaliser was a Pope shot which was well blocked by Camozzi.

Ground conditions were worsening with the continuing rain with the pitch cutting up a little, but both teams kept playing good football in the second half with Congleton doing most of the pressing.

Vics went close in the 52nd minute as Luke Sephton’s shot from the edge of the area was deflected out for a corner.

Four minutes later, a quick break by Congleton led to a shot from Bott which Cheetham couldn’t hold, but grabbed at the second time of asking just before Johns could get there.

Vics’ defence was holding firm as Congleton had most of the play but with only a few corners to show for their efforts, with Vics mainly threatening on the break.

Congleton did celebrate a goal in the 76th minute as Cheetham was bundled over the line with the ball after collecting a corner, but the referee quite rightly disallowed it.

Dunn then did well for Vics to wriggle past two defenders on the right of the box but was off balance when he shot and the ball went harmlessly out for a goal kick.

The referee signalled five minutes of injury time and Congleton had two good chances to salvage a point.

Firstly a Diskin cross found its way to Johnson at the far post but he was caught in two minds and he couldn’t connect properly, then Cheetham was forced into a fine save low down from a Pope shot.

There was still time for Vics to hit the post at the other end as Sephton did brilliantly to hold the ball up down the right, then turn his man and get a low cross in to which the incoming Winder connected with a low shot.

MATCH FACTS:

Northwich Vics 2 Congleton Town 1

North West Counties League Premier Division

Saturday, February 5, 2022 at U Lock It Stadium

Vics team: Cheetham, Clarke, Barski, Bembo-Leta, Camozzi, Winder, Jackson, Dunn, Lynch (Owen 72’), Sephton, Birchall (Allen 88’). Unused subs: Butterworth, Roberts

Goals: Vics: Dunn 11, Birchall 32. Congleton: Pope 3.

NEXT MATCHES:

Tuesday: AFC Liverpool away, 7.45pm.

Saturday: Skelmersdale United away, 3pm