This is how Pete Tonge reflects on Northwich Victoria's 2-1 home loss to Longridge Town on Wednesday night...

A match in which Vics managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as Longridge completed the ultimate smash and grab raid.

The match started with Longridge having the bulk of possession but creating little, with Vics doing little better when they had the chance to go forward.

Ash Dunn had a chance after eight minutes but couldn't bring the ball down well enough in the box after a great cross in from Kuda Chingwaro.

It was Chingwaro again in the 12th minute with the first real shot on target for either team as he fired in an effort from the edge of the box.

Longridge's first effort came in the 18th minute as Jack Anderton fizzed an attempt straight at Ryan Hamer in the Vics' net.

As the game went on, Vics grew in command.

Chingwaro connected with a Whyte corner in the 35th minute but his header went over the bar when he should have done better.

However Vics did take the lead shortly afterwards as a ball into the box was only cleared out to Joe Camozzi, who whipped it back in, and under pressure from Chingwaro, Marshall sliced the ball into his own net.

This gave Vics the spur they needed, and Whyte and Sephton both had efforts on goal before the half time interval came.

HALF-TIME: Northwich Vics 1 Longridge Town 0

The first 30 minutes of the second half was all one-way traffic, with Vics spurning chance after chance, although they weren't helped by the brilliance of Aspinall in the Town net.

Chingwaro was the first to be denied as he teamed up well with Matt Dudley and fired a volley in, which Aspinall did well to tip behind for a corner.

Five minutes later, Aspinall produced an even better save as he finger-tipped a Luke Sephton shot over the bar which was headed for the top corner.

Next minute, Aspinall had to rely on his defender Homson-Smith to head a goal-bound Roman Allen header off the line.

70 minutes in, Dudley ran at the last defender, tried to slip the ball to Chingwaro but it was deflected into the path of Ryan Jackson whose piledriver of a shot was again brilliantly saved by Aspinall.

Three minutes later, it was Jackson again running into the box before squaring the ball to Chingwaro who should have scored, but hit the bar and Aspinall again denied Dudley from the rebound.

Dudley was then set up by Chingwaro but he shot wide, before Sephton curled yet another shot just past the post.

Vics were then made to pay for all the missed chances as on a rare foray upfield, Ben Finlay found himself unmarked in the middle of the box and fired into the bottom left corner to pull Longridge level.

Vics were deflated, and three minutes later, a ball across the Vics box found Schofield free at the back post to tap the ball home for the winner.

How Vics didn't win this game, they will never know...but if you miss as many chances, and good chances at that, as Vics, you get punished.

Match facts:

Northwich Victoria 1 Longridge Town 2

North West Counties Football League Premier Division

Wednesday, 15th March, 2023

At U Lock It Stadium, Northwich

Vics: Hamer, Camozzi, Allen, Barski, Clarke, Jackson (Sotona 75'), Dunn, Mather (Whyte 25'), Sephton, Chingwaro, Dudley. Subs not used: Cooney, Walker

Yellow cards: Clarke, Dunn

Goals: Northwich Vics: own goal 37'. Longridge: Finlay 85', Schofield 88'

Next matches: League, Saturday, away to Avro, 3pm kick off

Mid Cheshire District FA Senior Cup Final: Wednesday, home v Winsford United, 7.45pm kick off