COMPETITION : FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
DATE - Saturday 3rd August 2024
VENUE - The Barton Stadium, Winsford

LINE-UP Vics’ -
Dalton, Camozzi, (Bland 66’), Clarke, Keyworth (Ogondare 77’), Hurst, Perry, Smith, Lloyd, Switters (Williams 86’), Unwin, Parker (Parkinson 57’)
Subs Not used : Gee, Crellin, Bennett

GOALS - Northwich Vics : Perry 16’, Switters 45+4’, Keyworth 70’
Squires Gate : Crossley 3’ 25’

Well, What a way to start the season, a cracking game of football, great weather, big crowd and a fine win for the Vics.
Vics started the match with only one change from the team that ended last season so well, with keeper George Dalton making his debut for them. However they were quickly one down as a 3rd minute well worked corner routine led to Harries crossing for Regan Crossley to head home at the far post. It wasn’t long though before Vics were back on level terms as an excellent corner routine fo their own was superbly half volleyed into the net by Marcus Perry from the edge of the box. A great strike! Vics were having the better of the match now, and a great move in the 23rd minute nearly led to a second goal as Lloyd, Unwin and Hurst linked up well for Hurst to cross for Perry to head just wide. Vics kept pressing, with Smith finding Will Lloyd free but his shot was over the bar. However, Vics succumbed to another corner routine in the 26th minute as Regan Crossley again headed in at the far post to give Squires Gate the lead again. Vics were still playing good football though and having the best of open play but couldn’t find a way through. Perry fired an effort high over the bar before deep into first half injury time, Vics earned a free kick 35 yards out which Dylan Switters superbly fired into the corner to send Vics into half-time level.

HALF-TIME : Northwich Vics 2 Squires Gate 2

The second half started with Vics doing most of the pressing. Lloyd fired a shot straight at the keeper in the 47th minute, whilst 3 minutes later, Perry was set through one on one with keeper, the keeper got there first but could only clear partially, and Unwin cleverly tried a lob back over him but it was narrowly wide. In the 54th minute, Callum Parker did well to win the ball back , fed Sam Unwin who crossed for Anton Smith to flick a header just wide. Vics were still looking the likelier team to score, and in the 69th minute Unwin and Smith linked up well again, Smith skinned the full back, and sent a low cross in which was turned over the bar by a Squires gate defender. The resulting corner was half cleared only and Will Lloyd dinked the ball back in for Joe Keyworth to loop a header over the keeper and into the back of the net to put the Vics into the lead. A few minutes later, Vics then had a great chance to put the game beyond the reach of Squires Gate as Vics countered quickly with substitute and debutant Kaleb Parkinson reached a long ball and slid Marcus Perry through on goal. Perry took the ball beyond the keeper, but couldn’t quite slide the ball into the net from an acute angle. Vics then had a close call at the other end, as Dylan Switters was forced to make a goal line clearance with his header as an attacking header came in from a free-kick. Vics’ nerves were being jangled ! However it was Vics who nearly made the game safe in the 89th minute as Sam Unwin tried an audacious lob from near the half way line which beat the keeper but bounced off the cross-bar…so close! The referee signalled 8 minutes of injury time and in the 3rd minute of it, another goal-line clearance from Vics as Dalton punched the ball half clear but the ball fell for Gate but the shot was brilliantly headed off the line by Joe Hurst. That was the last moment of alarm as Vics comfortably held our for the final few minutes to record a deserved, but close win.

FULL-TIME : Northwich Vics 3 Squires Gate 2

Well that was a nice start to the season. Good display from the Vics, great attacking football, plenty of drama but a deserved win.

Man of the Match as chosen by match sponsor Jayne Burnham was Marcus Perry for his all round display.
Thanks go to Den and Babs Bazley for sponsoring the man of the match trophy.

NEXT MATCH :
SATURDAY AUGUST 10th League Away v Uttoxeter Town 3.00pm