Peter Tonge reports on Northwich Victoria’s 4-2 loss to Macclesfield in the Cheshire Senior Cup…

THIS was a match in which Vics pushed Macclesfield to the limit and can take a lot of credit from, before they tired against a full-time side in the later stages.

A lively start to the match saw both sides playing good football and pressing forward.

Tom Clare stung the palms of Vics keeper Chris Cheetham with a shot in the 14th minute, with Sam Grimshaw putting the rebound high over the bar.

However, it was Vics who took the lead in the 27th minute with an excellent move.

The ball was played into Matt Dudley on the right side of the box, who calmly chipped the ball across to Ash Dunn in the middle. He took one touch and smashed the ball into the net from 12 yards out. 

James Hardy then sliced wide for Macclesfield as they looked for a quick reply, but Vics were generally looking the better team at this stage with Damola Sotona causing all sorts of problems for the Macclesfield defence.

Matty Birchall sent an angled shot just wide in the 41st minute as Vics went into the break well worth their slender lead.

Things got even better for Vics just 12 minutes into the second half as Sotona picked up the ball halfway in the Macclesfield half and went on a mazy run before sending a shot into the corner of the net from 22 yards – a great goal.

However, the match turned just two minutes later as Grimshaw sent in a cross from the right which looped over Cheetham into the net – a fluke but they all count.

It was Grimshaw who was involved again just six minutes later as he crossed low for Clare to side-foot the ball into the net from close range.

Macclesfield were going for the kill now and took the lead in the 72nd minute as Clare was left totally unmarked to head home a cross from former Trickie Joe Bunney.

Macclesfield the sealed the game just two minutes later as Clare set up Grimshaw who fired home from the edge of the area.

Vics: Cheetham, Camozzi, Allen,Barski, Bennett, Whyte, Dunn, Walker, Sotona, Birchall, Dudley. Subs: Mather, Chingwaro, M Jackson, R Jackson, Whalley (all used)