Pete Tonge gives us his verdict on Northwich Victoria's first league game of the season, a 2-1 win at Uttoxeter Town...

WELL, judging from the first two matches, it's going to be an exciting season ahead for Vics fans as they grabbed a win at Uttoxeter with a last-minute winner, after a dramatic 3-2 win against Squires Gate the previous weekend.

The first half was a fairly scrappy display with Uttoxeter starting off the better, and indeed they had the ball in the back of the net after just five minutes as the ball came in from a cross, but it was ruled out for some unknown reason fortunately.

Vics keeper George Dalton was then forced to dive to his left to turn a rasping shot away for a corner in the eighth minute.

Vics’ first chance came shortly afterwards as Mackenzie Faulkner met a perfect deep cross from the left but he couldn’t direct his header on target.

Marcus Perry then nearly repeated his goal from last week as he met a corner well but fired over the bar.

Dalton was again called into action as he got down to his right to claim a well struck shot.

Anton Smith then curled a free-kick fractionally wide in the 18th minute as the game began to get bitty as Vics struggled to cope with Town’s niggling fouls.

Uttoxeter were having most of the play while Vics were looking the most dangerous whenever they did have the ball.

Will Lloyd dragged a shot wide in the 28th minute after good work by Unwin, who was giving his full-back a torrid time.

Indeed it was Unwin who nearly gave Vics the lead in the 33rd minute as he easily turned his man yet again and curled an effort which the keeper did well to push away.

However Town went close a minute later as a free header was somehow cleared off the line by a Vics defender.

Vics then thought they had scored just before half time as Matty Clarke fired home from a tight angle after a lovely free kick was sent to the far post, but the goal was ruled out for offside somewhere in the build-up!

The second half started with Town getting on top,with Vics finding it hard to get out of their own half with Hurst making a great block in the 54th minute to deny Town the opener.

Town then missed a sitter in the 59th minute as the ball went across the Vics box to a free man who missed his kick as the ball fell to him at the far post. A let-off for the Vics.

Perry had a rasping shot well saved on one of Vics' rare forays upfield but it was no surprise really when Uttoxeter took the lead in the 76th minute as they countered down the left and their winger was on hand to knock the ball home.

This seemed to wake Vics up a bit, and they were back on level terms just seven minutes later as Smith fired a great cross in from the right for substitute Callum Parker to flick a great header into the back of the net.

Then with the clock clicking on to 90 minutes, Sam Unwin cut in from the left and curled a powerful shot from the edge of the area past the keeper to give Vics the lead, and send the large Vics contingent wild.

The drama wasn’t quite over yet though as the referee played eight minutes injury time, and Dalton was forced into a great point-blank save in the 94th minute to deny Town an equaliser.

Far from a fluent display from Vics, but a gritty never-say-die performance to grab three points from a match they never really got going in. The sign of a good team so they say!

Match facts:

Uttoxeter Town 1 Northwich Victoria 2

Midland League Premier Division

Saturday, August 10, 2024

At Oldfields Sports Ground, Uttoxeter

Vics - Dalton, Camozzi, Keyworth, Leeson, Hurst, Perry ( Russo 64’), Smith, Lloyd, Clarke, Unwin ( Williams 90+5’), Parkinson ( Parker 73’), Subs not used: Ogundare, Bland

Goals - Uttoxeter: 76'. Vics: Parker 83’, Unwin 90’

Next matches: Wednesday,  home v Whitchurch Alport, Barton Stadium, kick-off 7.45pm; Saturday, FA Cup preliminary round away to Barnoldswick Town, 3pm