Peter Tonge’s full report on Northwich Victoria’s 2-2 draw at Stone Old Alleynians…

AFTER a dreadful start, a good comeback earns an important point.

Vics were dealt a blow before the match as Leo Roberts injured himself in the warm up and was replaced by debutant Trey Turner.

This change seemed to throw Vics and they were lucky not to be three or four down within the first 20 minutes after a dreadful start.

They did indeed go one down in the fourth minute as the ball was easily worked into the box and Sam Wilson stroked it home.

Six minutes later, it should have been two as Matt Thomas found himself with just the keeper to beat but could only tamely chip the ball into his hands.

Stone continued to look dangerous with their quick attacks and Wilson, Tomlinson and Thomas all went close with chances.

Vics scarcely threatened during this spell, with only a Ryan Jackson shot just over the bar to show for their efforts.

Slowly though they started to get a foothold in the match, with McKenzie looking dangerous down the left.

Kev Exell headed straight at the keeper in the 28th minute and then Sam Unwin broke down the right but couldn't get his shot in, but the ball was played back into the box where Jackson's header was saved easily by the keeper.

Stone were still looking the likelier to get a second though, and nearly did in the 41st minute as a Connor Russo header hit the bar from a Wilson cross.

Vics had a shout for a penalty in the last minute of the half as a clearance from the keeper Gill was blocked by Niall Sultan and ricocheted towards goal and in the race to get to the ball, Gill appeared to pull Sultan to the floor, but the referee saw it as a fair challenge and Vics went into the half-time break lucky to be trailing by just the one goal.

The first chance of the second half fell to Stone as Thomas forced Reid into a good save from a powerful shot, but Vics were looking a different team now with Perry and Chapman coming on and linking up well down the left.

In the 56th minute, Perry drove down the left and cut the ball across to the supporting Chapman but his shot didn't really test Gill in the Stone net.

Vics were looking better now and in the 64th minute, Jackson forced Gill into a good double save as he firstly drove a shot in from a narrow angle from the right and then followed up on the rebound to force another save.

Vics got the equaliser they deserved in the 68th minute as a good build-up found Marcus Perry in the middle of the box and he made no mistake from eight yards out.

Vics tried to force the pace now and Perry broke quickly from a Stone corner and found Chapman, whose shot was just over the bar.

However, it was Stone who grabbed a second in the 81st minute as a corner from Harper went straight in as Reid tried to keep the ball from crossing the line.

Vics weren't to be denied, though as they showed a fighting spirit and played the ball down the right for Nathan Kebaya to send a superb cross in for Sam Unwin to head powerfully into the net.

Vics: Reid, Kebaya, Cookson, Bamba ( Hughes), Exell, Jackson, Turner (Chapman) Smith (Parker), Sultan, Unwin, (Battersby) McKenzie (Perry)