The Vics Column - Pete Tonge

WELL with lockdown looming large once again, and football at our level probably not being allowed again until December, we take a look at a contrasting start and end to October for the Vics.

With only the one postponement due to the weather up at Charnock Richard, we’ve had a busy month unlike a lot of teams playing eight matches during the month, a schedule that would have Premier League teams complaining in droves.

So, after the disappointment of the late call off of the Charnock match, we wished that the next three matches had fallen foul of either the weather or Covid-19!

An unlucky 3-2 defeat against title favourites and big spenders Warrington Rylands looked initially promising before we reverted to our old failings of conceding late goals after seemingly being well in control.

This was followed by two matches in which we deserved nothing and got nothing, a poor performance in the FA Vase away at North Ferriby Utd followed by the proverbial “Can they do it on a wet midweek night in Stoke?” with the resounding answer of “no”, as Vics turned in one of their poorest displays for a long while and fell to a deserved 2 -0 defeat.

So, on the following Saturday, a home match against one of the better footballing teams in the league, Longridge Town and we turn up with hopes low but in true Vics’ fashion they put in a great performance and run out comfortable 2-0 winners.

This was followed by another fine performance in front of the faithful Vics’ fans with a 2-1 victory against Irlam in which they showed their strength of character after being pegged back to 1 -1 with not too long to go and deservedly getting the winner through Brad Lynch in the 88th minute!

Two tough away matches followed, the first at Whitchurch Alport where it was Brad Lynch again on the scoresheet with two great goals in the second half for another 2 -0 victory.

The second away match was the first Mid-Cheshire derby of the season against top of the table Winsford United

This followed a similar pattern to the Irlam match with Vics dominating and getting an early lead but not being able to kill the game off and allowing an equaliser fairly late on before Darrhyl Mason came up with a moment of brilliance to deftly chip in a late winner, a result which saw Vics leapfrog Winsford into top place.

The final match of the month (and another month!) proved ultimately disappointing as Vics dropped two points as they drew two all against previously pointless Litherland Remyca despite taking the lead twice in front of a great crowd of 251 at Wincham Park.

The ups and downs of football all in one month!

So we go into another lockdown sitting at the top of the league ( yes i know other clubs have loads of games in hand) but it looks good to see the name Northwich Victoria up there at the top at the moment.

Long may it continue!