Pete Tonge reflects on a thrilling FA Cup clash between Northwich Victoria and Bootle...
NORTHWICH Victoria twice came from behind to deservedly earn a thrilling FA Cup preliminary round 4–4 draw against a Bootle side playing a level higher and boasting a 100 per cent record so far this season.
In a game packed with attacking football, dramatic moments and chances at both ends, the 297 supporters at the Apec Taxis Stadium were treated to a real cup classic.
Vics will feel they had the better of the match overall and, despite making costly mistakes at crucial moments, showed tremendous character and determination to fight back from two goals down.
The result means the two sides will have to do it all again, with the replay taking place at the Marine Arena Stadium on Wednesday.
There was an early setback for Vics when midfield general Will Lloyd was forced off after going down while attempting to get a shot away, with Leo Tanswell coming on.
Vics pressed and Ryan Atkinson beat his man before firing a low effort which struck the inside of the far post and rebounded straight into the goalkeeper's arms.
Against the run of play, Bootle struck first in the 20th minute. A simple ball over the top caught the Vics defence out and, after the ball was laid across goal, Jack McGowan made no mistake from close range.
Elliott Rokka stepped up to produce a moment of magic, brilliantly firing a 25-yard free-kick into the top right-hand corner to make it 1–1.
𝐀𝐁𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐓𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐊𝐄! 🚀💥
Elliott Rokka steps up and curls a total 𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑
straight into the top corner to give us the lead against @Bootle_FC.
A little bit of @EmiratesFACup magic! 🔥#UpTheVics | #FACup | #GoalOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/lcJkV5XtVV— Northwich Victoria F.C (@NorthwichVicsFC) August 23, 2026
Vics continued to push forward and the pressure told with five minutes of the half remaining.
The ball was worked across the face of goal where Rokka was waiting to unleash a laser-like finish into the bottom corner.
Deep into stoppage time, the visitors were awarded a controversial penalty following an incident involving a high foot in the box.
Ben Hodkinson sent Andre Mendes the wrong way and levelled the game at 2–2.
Bootle regained the lead in the 51st minute. A curling cross found Ryan Beigan at the back post and he calmly side-footed home.
Things got worse for Vics two minutes later when another deep cross was headed into the net by Hodkinson for a 4–2 lead.
Three minutes later, Northwich were back in the game. They kept the ball alive inside the Bootle penalty area before Joe Duckworth headed it back across goal, allowing Josh Langley to smash home from close range.
At 4–3, the match became an enthralling end-to-end contest.
With time running out, Vics finally got their reward.
In the 87th minute, Northwich won the ball back in midfield and moved it quickly into the Bootle penalty area.
Will Bentley kept his composure brilliantly, firing clinically into the net to make it 4–4 and send the Vics supporters into raptures.
Both sides still had chances to win it, with Bootle closest as they struck the post and, when the rebound fell to Saul Fox Akande with the goal at his mercy, somehow he sliced his effort wide.
Match facts:
Northwich Victoria 4–4 Bootle
FA Cup preliminary round
Sunday, August 23, 2026
Apec Taxis Stadium, Runcorn
Attendance: 297
Vics: Mendes, Lawson (Jackson R 62’), Jackson L, Langley, Sutton (Bentley 83’), Atkinson, Lloyd (Tanswell 6’ (Coughlan 83’)), Clarke, Whyte (Keogh 68’), Duckworth, Rokka
Goals:
Northwich Victoria: Rokka 26’, 39’, Langley 56’, Bentley 87’
Bootle: McGowan 20’, Hodkinson 45+2’ (pen), 53’, Beigan 51’
Next match: Wednesday, FA Cup preliminary round replay, Bootle v Northwich Victoria, Marine Arena Stadium
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