Peter Tonge’s full verdict on Northwich Victoria’s come-from-behind FA Cup victory against Squires Gate on Saturday…
Well, what a way to start the season – a cracking game of football, great weather, big crowd and a fine win for the Vics.
Vics started the match with only one change from the team that ended last season so well, with keeper George Dalton making his debut for them.
However, they were quickly one down as a well worked third-minute corner routine led to Harries crossing for Regan Crossley to head home at the far post.
It wasn’t long though before Vics were back on level terms as an excellent corner routine of their own was superbly half volleyed into the net by Marcus Perry from the edge of the box. A great strike!
Vics were having the better of the match now, and a great move in the 23rd minute nearly led to a second goal as Will Lloyd, Sam Unwin and Joe Hurst linked up well for Hurst to cross for Perry to head just wide.
Vics kept pressing, with Anton Smith finding Lloyd free but his shot was over the bar.
However, Vics succumbed to another corner routine in the 26th minute as Crossley again headed in at the far post to give Squires Gate the lead again.
Vics were still playing good football though and having the best of open play but couldn’t find a way through.
Perry fired an effort high over the bar before deep into first half injury time, Vics earned a free kick 35 yards out which Dylan Switters superbly fired into the corner to send Vics into half-time level.
The second half started with Vics doing most of the pressing – Lloyd fired a shot straight at the keeper in the 47th minute whilst three minutes later, Perry was sent through one-on-one with keeper, the keeper got there first but could only clear partially, and Unwin cleverly tried a lob back over him but it was narrowly wide.
In the 54th minute, Callum Parker did well to win the ball back and feed Unwin, who crossed for Smith to flick a header just wide.
Vics were still looking the likelier team to score and in the 69th minute, Unwin and Smith linked up well again, Smith skinned the full back, and sent a low cross in which was turned over the bar by a Squires Gate defender.
The resulting corner was only half-cleared and Lloyd dinked the ball back in for Joe Keyworth to loop a header over the keeper and into the back of the net to put the Vics into the lead.
A few minutes later, Vics then had a great chance to put the game beyond the reach of Squires Gate as they countered quickly and substitute and debutant Kaleb Parkinson reached a long ball and slid Perry through on goal.
Perry took the ball beyond the keeper, but couldn’t quite slide the ball into the net from an acute angle.
Vics then had a close call at the other end as Switters was forced to make a goal line clearance with his header as an attacking header came in from a free-kick – nerves were being jangled!
However, it was Vics who nearly made the game safe in the 89th minute as Unwin tried an audacious lob from near the halfway line which beat the keeper but bounced off the crossbar.
The referee signalled eight minutes of injury time and in the third minute of it, another goalline clearance from Vics as Dalton punched the ball half clear but the ball fell for Gate, but the shot was brilliantly headed off the line by Hurst.
That was the last moment of alarm as Vics comfortably held out for the final few minutes to record a close but deserved win.
Vics: Dalton, Camozzi, (Bland), Clarke, Keyworth (Ogondare), Hurst, Perry, Smith, Lloyd, Switters (Williams), Unwin, Parker (Parkinson). Subs not used: Gee, Crellin, Bennett
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