9:15pm Saturday 8th August 2009
By Andrew Simpson
DEFEAT would have been hard to take for Northwich who left it late to rescue a deserved point.
As it is, manager Andy Preece was happy to kick his team’s tricky opener against Football Conference newboys into the long grass.
Apt, because the players were almost stuck there too.
“The pitch wasn’t the greatest was it,” he understated at full time.
Eastwood’s Coronation Park grass covered the players’ feet in patches – putting to pasture any chance of even the most basic of passing moves.
Unsurprisingly the hosts were swifter to adapt.
They were ahead inside seven minutes, Mat Bailey’s clumsy trip on Peter Knox allowing Danny Holland to score Eastwood’s first goal at this level from the spot.
Vics did not react.
Instead the Badgers, buoyed by their penalty prize, were rarely cohesive enough to trouble Curtis Aspden, while at the other end Vics applied pressure from set pieces in a bid to level.
Indeed, Simon Grand skidded a header onto the crossbar from Wayne Riley’s free kick on 35 minutes as the visitors finally turned their territorial advantage into clear cut chances.
Jon Newby could not control a difficult volley from Junior Brown’s cross, before another Riley set piece ended with Grand’s header teeing up Michael Connor.
But his diving effort was straight at Eastwood shot-stopper Ian Deakin.
The second period, in contrast to the first, was a white and green monologue.
Riley picked out Grand inside the box within seconds of the restart, and the skippers’ cute lay-off deserved better than Newby’s weak shot.
His scuffed effort forced Deakin to save at least, but with ease.
Aaron Burns was next to wish he had done better, darting onto Newby’s assist with a perfect first touch only to lift a careless finish over the bar with his second with only the keeper to beat.
Eastwood’s only opening was one with which they could have secured the points, Holland ghosting onto sub Martin Foster’s lofted pass only to lob wide of the target as Aspden rushed towards him.
Vics, now with both Lee Elamand Jonny Allan on to bolster their attack, continued to pile on the pressure.
The hosts were grateful to captain Mark Hume on 72 minutes, his brilliant block thwarting Elam amid appeals he had used his arm to complete the save.
But the Badgers’ leader almost turned party pooper 10 minutes later his crude sliding lunge on Newby deserving of his dismissal.
Deakin then diverted Riley’s low drive around the upright to keep Vics at bay, although a minute later he played a pivotal part in Northwich’s leveller with four minutes left.
Perhaps distracted by incoming players he feebly diverted Allan’s centre into the six-yard box, where Grand gleefully hooked the loose ball into the net.
A point was better than none.
Star Man Junior Brown: An assured, mature debut from the former Crewe Alexandra youngster. He was composed under pressure, and rarely flustered by Badgers’ danger man Lindon Meikle.
Eastwood (4-4-2) Deakin (GK), Cooke, Robinson, Hume, Marshall, Meikle (Martin Foster 46), Anton Foster, Nwadike, Gardner, Knox (Smith 61), Holland (Holmes 83)
Sub not used David Brown
Goal Holland 7 (penalty)
Booked Cooke, Gardner, Hume, Nwadike, Robinson (all fouls), Holland (retaliation)
Vics (4-4-2) Aspden (GK), Kerr, Bailey, Grand, Junior Brown, Riley, Connor (Danks 80), Herring, Horrocks (Elam 62), Newby, Burns (Allan 66)
Subs not used Hanley, Meadowcroft
Goal Grand 86
Booked Allan, Kerr (fouls), Grand (retaliation)
Referee Ryan Newman (Barnsley)
Attendance 768
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