LINE-UP 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’

Northwich Victoria produced an unforgettable Emirates FA Cup encounter as they twice came from behind, including a two-goal deficit in the second half, to deservedly earn a thrilling 4–4 draw against a Bootle side playing a level higher and boasting a 100% 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 started brightly, with Ryan Atkinson and Will Lloyd threatening inside the opening five minutes. However, there was an early setback when midfield general Lloyd was forced off in the sixth minute after going down while attempting to get a shot away, with Leo Tanswell coming on.
The home side continued to press and came agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 14th minute. Atkinson beat his man before firing a low effort which struck the inside of the far post and somehow rebounded straight into the goalkeeper's arms. Atkinson then fired over from a tight angle as Vics continued to dominate the early exchanges.
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.
Bootle almost doubled their advantage four minutes later when Ben Hodkinson curled an effort narrowly over the bar. They were made to pay for that miss just a minute later.
Vics won a free-kick 25 yards out on the right, and Elliott Rokka stepped up to produce a moment of magic, brilliantly firing the ball into the top right-hand corner to make it 1–1.
The momentum was now firmly with Northwich, and Bootle goalkeeper Joe Mason was forced to parry away a powerful effort from Tanswell as Vics continued to push forward.
The pressure finally told with five minutes of the half remaining. A superb move down the left saw the ball worked across the face of goal, where Rokka was waiting to unleash a laser-like finish into the bottom corner for his second of the afternoon.
Vics looked solid at the back as half-time approached, although Andre Mendes had to produce a superb point-blank save to deny Bootle.
Then, deep into stoppage time, the visitors were awarded a controversial penalty following an incident involving a high foot in the box. High foot or low head? It was certainly one for debate, but Hodkinson kept his composure to send Mendes the wrong way and level the game at 2–2.

HALF-TIME: NORTHWICH VICTORIA 2–2 BOOTLE

Rokka continued to look dangerous after the restart, first sliding a ball into Joe Duckworth, who couldn't quite get his shot away after a poor first touch.
The Vics winger was involved again moments later, playing an excellent ball across the box for Atkinson, whose glancing effort went narrowly wide of the far post.
But Bootle regained the lead in the 51st minute. A curling cross found Ryan Beigan at the back post and he calmly side-footed home to make it 3–2.
Things got even worse for Vics just two minutes later when another deep cross was headed into the net by Hodkinson and put Bootle 4–2 ahead.
Many teams might have wilted at that point. Not this Vics side.
Three minutes later, Northwich were back in the game. They kept the ball alive inside the Bootle penalty area before 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.
Mikey Lawson embarked on a superb driving run from halfway before dragging his effort wide, while Bootle's Lenehan sent a shot inches past the post.
Lee Jackson and Duckworth both had opportunities as Vics searched desperately for an equaliser, although Bootle remained dangerous on the counter as Northwich committed more men forward.
Mendes kept his side in the contest again with an excellent save from a Hodkinson header, before Rokka curled an effort agonisingly wide at the other end.
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.
There was still time for more drama.
Just two minutes later, Duckworth fired through a melee of players inside the box, only for a Bootle defender to produce a superb goal-saving block with his knee.
Then it was Bootle's turn to come desperately close to winning it. The visitors struck the post and, when the rebound fell to Saul Fox Akande with the goal at his mercy, somehow he sliced his effort wide.
And with that, the extraordinary contest came to an end.

FULL-TIME: NORTHWICH VICTORIA 4–4 BOOTLE

What a game.
Both teams deserve enormous credit for producing such an entertaining cup tie, with neither side prepared to settle for anything less than victory. 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 also means the two sides will have to do it all again, with the replay taking place at the Marine Arena Stadium on Wednesday.
After a game this good, the rematch can't come soon enough.

NEXT MATCHES

Wednesday 26th August 2026
Emirates FA Cup – Replay
Bootle v Northwich Victoria
Marine Arena Stadium

Saturday 1st September 2026
League
Northwich Victoria v Abbey Hulton United