Pete Tonge looks back over Northwich Victoria's 2-1 win at Squires Gate in the FA Cup extra preliminary round...
IT was a tale of two halves with Vics looking impressive in both but in totally different ways!
A splendid first half performance from the Vics from start to finish as they attacked with intent.
A long range shot from the returning Martyn Jackson in the 5th minute which tested Pennington in the Gate net set the tone but it wasn't until the 17th minute that Vics took the lead.
A long throw in from Bennett was only half cleared out to the waiting Ash Dunn on the edge of the area, he took one touch and drove it through a crowded penalty box into the corner of the net.
Three minutes later, Gate keeper Pennington was forced into a fine save from Ryan Winder, as Vics continued to press.
Matt Dudley and Liam Martin both went close for Vics while Gate's best effort was in the 39th minute when a Theo Ball shot was well blocked by the Vics defence.
Vics finally got the second goal they deserved just before time, as they were awarded a rather dubious free kick when Harvey Whyte was deemed to have been fouled right on the edge of the area.
Up stepped Brandon Barski to drive the free kick hard and low into the bottom corner.
The second half was a complete turnaround with Gate coming out with a more attacking set up, and pushing Vics back from the start.
However, Vics coped fairly comfortably with the pressure restricting Gate to a few long shots, but they were penned in their own half for long periods.
Gate did pull a goal back in the 63rd minute as Ryan Riley was allowed to run across the box evading 2 or 3 tackles before easily shooting the ball past Cheetham. A poor goal to concede after all the hard work of the previous 20 minutes.
Gate were buoyed by this goal, and Pett went close with a header just 3 minutes later, whilst a minute after that, the same player forced Cheetham to parry a long range shot wide.
However Vics managed to weather the storm, and slowly regained their composure and started regaining control of the match again.
Captain Joe Camozzi went close for Vics as he played a one-two with Avraam and stormed into the box but his strike was straight at the keeper.
Gate, to their credit, kept pushing but Vics were managing the match well now and there were no undue alarms as the match drew to its close.
An excellent performance by Vics, showing skill and attacking flair in the first half, and a dogged determination and team spiritness in the second half not to lose.
Credit as well to the fantastic supporters who helped pull the Vics through to victory.
Vics: Cheetham, Camozzi, Allen, Barski, Bennett, Whyte, Winder (Avraam 75'), Jackson M (Graham 65'), Dunn, Martin, Dudley. Unused subs: McPherson, Khochtali, Sherlock
NEXT GAMES:
LEAGUE: SATURDAY 13th AUGUST: Away at AFC Liverpool
LEAGUE: MONDAY 15th AUGUST: Away at Winsford United
FA CUP: SUNDAY 21st AUGUST: Home v West Didsbury & Chorlton
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