Pete Tonge gives his verdict on Sunday's clash between Northwich Victoria and Winsford United, a match which the visitors won 2-0...
TWO first-half goals condemned Vics to a 'derby' defeat at home against Winsford United on Saturday.
Winsford controlled the first half from the start, with Vics rarely creating anything of threat to Ryan Hamer in the Winsford net.
It took 24 minutes for Winsford to take the lead when Vics failed to properly clear a ball from the box and it fell to Joe Duckworth on the edge of the area.
He curled a tremendous shot into the top corner past a despairing Vics keeper Chris Cheetham.
Ten minutes later, it was 2-0 as again Vics failed to clear a corner.
This time Dylan Chalice fired a strike off the crossbar into the net.
Winsford continued to dominate the first half, and could have extended their lead even further but it was Vics who went closest in the final minute as a Rudy Misambo header fell to Ashley Dunn who could not quite steer the ball home.
Vics came out for the second half with more purpose and tried to put more pressure on the Winsford defence.
Ryan Winder's free-kick went straight at the keeper while in the 64th minute Martyn Jackson was played in but his shot was again straight at Hamer.
Vics' best chance came in the 70th minute as Joe Camozzi crossed dangerously and Dunn tested Hamer, who made consecutive great saves.
Shortly afterwards, a Vics corner was floated in and Misambo powered a header just over the bar when well placed.
Vics were then reduced to 10 men for the second match running when a melee broke out in the middle of the pitch which resulted in Misambo being sent off in the 85th minute for pushing a Winsford player to the ground.
It was a justified decision, although the referee then failed to send off a Winsford player for an identical push during the fracas.
MATCH FACTS:
Northwich Vics 0 Winsford United 2
North West Counties Premier Division
At U Lock It Stadium, Sunday, March 13, 2022
Vics team: Cheetham, Camozzi, Misambo, Bembo-Leta, Clarke, Winder (Owen 75mins), Dunn, Jackson, Mather, Dudley (Martin 46mins), Birchall. Subs not used: Butterworth, Roberts.
Red card: Misambo 85mins
Goals: Duckworth 24mins, Chalice 34mins
NEXT MATCH: Vics host Macclesfield FC in the Macron Cup on Wednesday, kick-off 7.45pm, and then entertain Burscough in the NWCFL on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.
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