Studley 2 Vics 1

COMPETITION : Midland League Premier Division
DATE - Saturday 9th December 2023
VENUE - The Beehive, Studley

LINE-UP Vics’ -
Reid, Camozzi), Barski, Cookson, Bembo-Leta (Ogundare 73’), McKenzie, Clarke ( Causer 70’), Sixsmith, Unwin (Parker 57’), Mills ( Perry 41’), Coop (Sultan 20’)

Red Card : Sultan 64’
Yellow Card : Clarke 25’, Camozzi 55’, Perry 87’

GOALS - : Studley : Taylor-Randle 6’. Martin 29’
Northwich Vics : Parker 77’

Another depressing awayday defeat for the Vics as they fall to a 2 - 1 defeat at Studley.

Vics started slowly ( again) and were a goal down after just 6 minutes as Reiss Taylor-Randle was allowed to come in from the right across the edge of the box and fire a shot just inside the post. Vics were virtually non existent as an attacking force in the first 25 minutes, though Sam Unwin did fire a free-kick just wide of the post in the 13th minute. Things got worse for Vics in the 28th minute as Studley were awarded a penalty after Barski got the wrong side of the attacker in the box, and pushed him to the floor in an attempt to get back round, though the attacker did make the most of it. To be fair to the referee, this was probably the one and only decision he got right ( for both teams) all game ! Romario Martin fired the ball in the bottom left corner tout Studley two up. The rest of the half was fairly uneventful though Vics were starting to press forward more, and Fraser Cookson went close with a header whilst Barski and McKenzie both had shots well blocked just before the break.

HALF-TIME : Studley 2 Northwich Vics 0

The second half was delayed 10 minutes as the floodlights failed as the players came onto the pitch. When it eventually started, Studley were in control and Adam Reid was forced into a good save early on. On a rare Vics attack in the 60th minute, Marcus Perry was pressuring the Studley left back who went down without a touch, and the referee promptly blew the whistle for a foul, a decision that Perry didn’t agree with and was quickly sin binned for 10 minutes ( though it 13 before the ref let him back on!) Vics were down to 10, and soon it was 9 as 4 minutes later, Niall Sultan was harshly given a second yellow card for an alleged foul. Studley pressed forward now looking for the killer third goal but Vics defended well though Reid did have to produce a couple of top class saves. Marcus came back on the pitch after 73 minutes, and four minutes later, Vics brilliantly broke quickly Camozzi found Perry down the right who crossed low and hard for Callum Parker to poke the ball home to put Vics right back in it. It was all Vics now, and indeed they should have had an equaliser in the 85th minute as the Studley keeper made a hash of a back pass and presented the ball to Joe Camozzi ( what was he doing up there?) but Joe could only volley the ball straight back at the keeper. A great chance. Two minutes later, a melee occurred after a foul and resulted in Taylor Eades being sent off for Studley, and Marcus Perry given a Yellow for Vics. Vics kept pressing and went close to a deserved equaliser in added on time as a header went just wide of the post.

FULL-TIME : Studley 2 Northwich Vics 1

A match in which there was only one winner, the referee who gave as poor a performance as I’ve ever seen, not biased in any way, just totally inept. Vics kept pressing and never gave up and probably deserved a point after a poor start.

NEXT MATCH : DECEMBER 16th League home v STOURPORT SWIFTS 3.00pm kick off ( at Barton Stadium, Winsford)