NORTHWICH Victoria bowed out of the FA Trophy after a replay with Curzon Ashton.

Jim Gannon's men held Ashton 0-0 away from home on Saturday but a 20th-minute strike from Jonathan Hunt in Tuesday night's second helping was enough to ensure it was the visitors who secured a home date with Barwell in the next round.

Curzon Ashton 0 Northwich Victoria 0

VICS boss Jim Gannon was impressed with the way his side matched higher-ranked opposition in Saturday’s draw with Curzon Ashton in the FA Trophy.

The visitors held the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League outfit for 90 minutes, and then in a bizarre misunderstanding another 15 minutes, before the game was eventually sent to a replay.

Referee Mark Powell allowed extra time to commence, before being informed at the interval the correct procedure was a replay.

And Gannon was not impressed at his players being forced to play the extra period.

“The performance and result was very decent considering the challenge of playing a high-flying team at their ground,” he said.

“The defensive performance from the team was excellent and we deserved the clean sheet. With a little bit more quality in front of goal I don’t think anyone could have denied us a goal for the efforts and attempts we had.

“But at the end of the 90 we had to accept the equality of the game and await the replay. However, we had the farce of the referee forcing us to play a nonsense first period of extra time.

“Such a ridiculous conclusion to the game’s affairs was so unfair on the players of both sides who had put in a massive effort in a tremendous tussle.”

Abou Sanogo headed wide from Chris Smalley’s cross early on and also rattled the crossbar after the break as the game finished level.

Gannon added: “We had to work hard to contain their threat and we certainly stretched them throughout the game."

Vics: Deasy, Smalley, Henry, Clarke, Ali, Dixon (Roddy), Cook, Summerskill, Sanogo (Sherratt), Abadaki, Burnett (Amis). Subs not used: Smith, Kelly.