Pete Tonge reflects on Northwich Victoria’s 2-2 draw at home to Tividale…

THIS was another match Vics should have won easily, but somehow managed to gift the visitors two goals.

It was definitely a case of two points dropped rather than one gained!

Vics started the brighter and were ahead after just four minutes.

A corner was cleared, but played back into the Tividale box where Jack Coop turned well and was promptly brought down - penalty!

Coop stepped up and confidently sent the keeper the wrong way to record his first goal for the club.

However, after this bright start, Vics shot themselves in the foot when the normally dependable Harris Saunders decided to pass back to the keeper from about 40 yards, but instead managed to score what would have been a goal of the season contender had it been at the right end as he managed to strike a beautiful chip over Keir Barry's head into the back of the Vics net!

Dylan Switters then nearly restored Vics' lead as he superbly beat three men, before firing straight at the keeper.

Switters then had a shot over the bar, but Tividale took the lead and it was another mistake at the back as Saunders didn't get enough on a short pass back which allowed Delaney to nip in and tap the ball into an empty net.

Vics were deflated now, and not much was happening and a goal looked unlikely until Dylan Switters played a beautiful cross/shot low across the box which found Callum Parker at the far post to fire in and bring the scores level just before half time.

The second half proved to be a non-event really, with little cohesive football played by both sides and with neither keeper being really tested.

Coop curled a shot just wide early on in the half, while Will Lloyd struck an effort over the bar after teaming up with Connor Russo.

Late on, Jackson Kelly headed over from a Perry cross but that was about the best of the action in a half which petered out into a disappointing draw for Vics.

Match facts: Northwich Victoria 2 Tividale 2

Midland league Premier Division

Saturday, September 28, 2024

At Barton Stadium, Winsford

Vics: Barry, Russo (Bennett 75mins), Faulkner, Saunders, Hurst, Unwin, Switters (Smith 70mins), Lloyd, Clarke, Parker (Kelly 69mins), Coop (Perry 56mins).

Goals: Northwich Vics: Coop 4mins (pen), Parker 42mins. Tividale: Saunders 11mins (og), Delaney 33mins.

Next match: Tonight, Tuesday October 1st: Midland League away to Wolverhampton Casuals, 7.45pm

Note: Saturday’s match away at Dudley Town has been postponed due to Dudley's landlords Sporting Khalsa having a FA Trophy tie there.