Pete Tonge gives his verdict on Northwich Victoria's 0-0 home draw with Wythenshawe Town...
WELL, this may have ended up a goalless draw, but what a cracking match it was to watch.
Two top teams who will both feel aggrieved not to have taken all three points.
Vics had the better of the first half, although real clear cut chances were few.
The first fell to Matty Dudley after seven minutes when he was fed by a through ball from Harvey Whyte, but he dallied too long and was eventually crowded out.
In the 15th minute, the dangerous Damola Sotona cut inside from the right and laid a great ball across to Kuda Chingwaro who took it past one defender but his shot was then well blocked for a corner.
Vics were applying all the pressure, but couldn't make their dominance count.
A free kick in the 30th minute was headed just wide and Town dealt well with a number of corners.
Mark Lees had a header from a corner well saved by Ryan Hamer in the Vics net after 42 minutes, while just three minutes later, Dudley for Vics whistled a shot just wide of the post.
HALF-TIME: Northwich Vics 0 Wythenshawe Town 0
Vics had a great chance to take the lead in the first minute of the second half, as a Town defender slipped allowing Dunn a one-on-one with the keeper, who made a great save to deny him.
Hamer then had to make a great block save to deny Town's Jerome Wright after he had made a run into the box.
Vics had to reorganise at the back with Matty Clarke coming on for Alex Bennett who was taken off with what looked to be a serious injury, and we wish him a speedy recovery.
In the 62nd minute, Whyte tried an audacious chip over the keeper from 20 yards but just failed.
Five minutes later, Town were in disbelief as to how they failed to score as Hamer pulled off two absolutely world-class saves - first from Parny and then from Wright from six yards out, tipping a shot over the bar. Absolutely stunning and well worth watching when the video is put on the NVFC TV YouTube site.
Tom Walker was then sin binned for 10 minutes for something he said, and Wythenshawe started to pile on the pressure.
Hamer saved well again from a Hewitt shot from distance, before the same player blazed one over the top as the ball was pulled back to him. He really should have scored!
Town thought they had scored in the 78th minute as a ball was dinked to the back post where Matty Bryan headed powerfully into the net, but the linesman's flag cut short the Wythenshawe celebrations.
It was Bryan again in the 86th minute who made space on the edge of the box before firing a shot in, forcing Hamer into another top-class save.
Vics then should have nicked the points in the 92nd minute as Ryan Jackson did extremely well to head the ball back across goal where Matt Dudley just had to get a touch on the ball to score...but didn't. So close!
0-0 was probably a fair result in the end, with Vics missing the best two chances of the match while Town were denied by the brilliance of Hamer.
It was a match that was a credit to the both clubs and football in general.
Match facts:
Northwich Victoria 0 Wythenshawe Town 0
North West Counties Premier Division
At the U Lock It Stadium
Saturday 7th January 2023
Vics: Hamer, Camozzi (Cooney 83'), Allen, Barski, Bennett (Clarke 54'), Sotona (Jackson R 75'), Dunn, Clarke, Whyte, Chingwaro (Jackson M 87'), Dudley. Sub not used: Cheetham
NEXT MATCH: Home, Wednesday, versus Longridge Town, 7.45pm kick off.
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