Pete Tonge provides his thoughts on Northwich Victoria's 2-0 home defeat to Longridge Town in the North West Counties League Premier Division...

VICS were forced into several changes for the match, and never got started.

A quiet start with the first chance not coming til the 14th minute when Vics were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area, but Ryan Winder's dipping effort was tipped over the bar by Lee Dovey in the Town net.

However, Longridge came even closer two minutes later when a short corner was played to Jack Anderton whose decent effort from the edge of the area bounced off the post with the returning Danny Taberner ( replacing the injured Chris Cheetham) stranded.

Vics' already changed defence suffered another injury blow in the 20th minute when Rudy Misambo had to go off. His replacement Saul Brew-Butler's first involvement was controversial as he brought down Town's Tre Pemberton as he was clean through the defence, but the referee rightly gave a yellow and not the red that Town demanded.

The resultant free-kick was fired straight into the defensive wall.

It was all Town now, with Vics barely getting out of their own half.

In the 25th minute, a corner was only half cleared and put back into the box where Moses' first time effort was just wide.

Just a minute later, Ben Fletcher fired a low cross in which Taberner parried away and Jack Anderton's follow up shot was then tipped around the post.

Still Town pressed and one minute later, Taberner was forced into another save from a fierce Moses' shot with Pemberton putting the rebound over the bar.

Next it was Brandon Lee and Conor Ready with efforts for Town but Taberner was equal to them both.

The breakthrough for Town finally came in the 41st minute as Pemberton teed up Anderton to lash the ball into the back of the net. Only what Town deserved !

Longridge started the second half as they finished the first, and nearly doubled their lead when the dangerous Anderton cut inside and curled a shot which cannoned off the post.

Dovey was called into action to push a Vics' free kick around the post while the resultant corner was cleared by the impressive Moses.

Town extended their lead in the 62nd minute as Danny Wilkinson slid an Anderton free-kick from wide on the right into the back of the net.

The game was quieter now, with Vics not exactly coming back into the game but having their fair share of the ball but with few chances for either team.

Town looked content just to contain Vics now, and despite Vics pushing forward more, there were few scares for Longridge who closed the game out to gain a deserved victory.

Vics are away at Congleton Town on Tuesday 17th August, 7.45pm

Match facts:

NWC Premier Division

Saturday 14th August 2021 at Wincham Park, Northwich

Vics: Taberner, Allen, Misambo, ( Brew-Butler 20') Barski, Camozzi, Dunn. Subs: Winder R , Sherlock ( Mather 46'), Winder J ( Flitcroft 80'), Birchall, Curtis. Sub not used: Whyte, Kelly

Goals: Longridge Town: Anderton 41', Wilkinson 62'

Bookings: Brew-Butler 22', Barski 64'