The full story of Northwich Victoria’s 1-1 draw with Stone Old Alleynians at Barton Stadium on Wednesday courtesy of Peter Tonge…
IT was all Stone for the first 10 minutes of the match, and it only took four minutes for them to take the lead as a corner eventually fell to Josh Sedgley near the left hand edge of the box and he hit a peach of a strike past Ollie Culkin.
Four minutes later, it was nearly two as Culkin made a great save diving to his right to keep out a powerful effort.
Eventually, Vics woke up and started to be an attacking threat themselves.
Mamadou Djabi toe -poked a Harris Saunders header towards goal from a free kick, which Gill in the Stone net just managed to save, whilst Sam Unwin's first touch failed as he was excellently found by Djabi in the 12th minute.
Unwin again went close in the 25th minute after some slick one-touch football from Marcus Perry and Djabi.
Stone still looked dangerous though and Vics were indebted to firstly Joe Camozzi for an excellent last-minute interception and then Culkin for tipping a header away for a corner when Stone looked likely to score.
Unwin then had a shot diverted for a corner after good work by Perry right on the half time whistle – plenty of good one-touch football from Vics in the first half but just lacking the final touch.
As in the first half, Stone started the second half the better, however Vics coped well and quickly got back on top and went in search of the equaliser, with Djabi leading the line superbly.
Anton Smith had a cracking effort fly just wide of the left post after he was well set up by Djabi in the 57th minute before Vics got the equaliser they deserved in the 68th minute, and a great move it was too.
Djabi did well to shield the ball and turn his man deep on the right side of the box before laying the ball to Unwin, who played a first-time cross onto the head of substitute Callum Parker, who couldn't miss from three yards out. One all, all to play for.
Jack Coop then just failed to control a flicked ball from Parker when well-placed whilst Unwin couldn't quite control a cross from Djabi after he did well on the right.
Vics kept pressing and were nearly rewarded in injury time as the ball pinged around in the box but as was the case for most of the match, the final touch couldn't be applied and they had to settle for a point.
Vics: Culkin, Camozzi (Bennett), Faulkner, Saunders, Hurst (Coop) Perry (Parker), Switters, Torjusson (Russo) ,Smith, Unwin, Djabi
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