Peter Tonge brings us his full verdict on Northwich Victoria’s 2-1 defeat at Stourport Swifts on Saturday…
A SLOW start to the match with not a lot happening at either end.
Vics' first real chance came in the 11th minute as an Anton Smith free kick was headed back across the area by Harris Saunders and Mama Djabi put his shot just wide of the goal.
Two minutes later, it was Djabi's turn to become provider as he laid the ball off to Smith, who shot over the bar.
However, it was Swifts who took the lead in the 25th minute as a through ball put Knights through one-on=-one, and he made no mistake.
Vics' only real threat was coming from set pieces as they struggled to string passes together, and indeed it was from a corner that they equalised in the 40th minute.
Smith found Marcus Perry with the corner and his shot from the edge of the area found Mackenzie Faulkner at the far post and he deflected the ball into the net.
Vics were somewhat fortunate to go into the half time break level and the second half proved only slightly livelier as Vics had their best spell of the match, short-lived as it was though.
Joe Hurst swung in a free kick from out wide which nearly caught out Dom Richards in the Swifts' net as it headed for the far top corner, but he just managed to get a last second hand to it to tip it over the net.
Then, a Sam Unwin low cross was nearly flicked into the net by Djabi.
That was about as good as it got for Vics, and they were close to conceding after a goalmouth scramble which resulted from a corner.
Two minutes later in the 71st minute, they did fall behind as a free kick was allowed to run through the area, allowing Ethan Hanson to score at the far post.
Almost straight after, Swifts then nearly gave it away as keeper Richards needlessly barged Sam Unwin to the ground to give away a penalty, but he made amends by diving to his right to save Unwin's spot kick, and Unwin couldn't direct the rebound on goal.
Vics never looked likely to get an equaliser after that as the match meandered to a deserved Swifts win.
Vics: Culkin, Hurst (Bennett), Saunders, Faulkner, Russo, Unwin, Smith, Switters, Perry (Kelly), Coop (Parker), Djabi
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