Vics stay top of the league and stretched their winning run to 8 matches now but left it late, very very late!
Vics lined up with 4 influential players ( Davis, Abreu and Cooke and Hurst) missing for various reasons which meant a reshuffle in defence with Mr Versatile Matty Clarke slotting into central defence and Sam Gill making a first start in midfield. It took some time for Vics to get used to the changes, and it was Stourport who should have gone ahead after just 9 minutes as a good cross came in from the left but a side footed finish from McKenzie went wide from a good position. A minute later, another chance as Vics’s keeper Mendes missed the ball as he came out but Matty Clarke was in the right place to clear as Stourport sent a header towards goal. Vics then started to get into the match more, Djabi flicked a header just wide whilst Sam Gill fired a free kick in from just outside the area which forced Swifts keeper Josh Lewis into a diving save. Eme fired just wide as Vics were starting to dictate play, and then they had the ball in the net after Lewis could only parry a shot from Djabi which fell to Will Lloyd who fired the ball home but the referee had spotted an earlier push and disallowed the goal. Just as it looked as Vics were taking charge , Swifts broke quickly after Vics had lost the ball in midfield, the ball came across the edge of Vics area and Josheen Sappleton was totally unmarked to slide the ball past Mendes to give Swifts the lead. Swifts with tails up now, threatened a second as Matt Harrison was forced into a great last ditch tackle to deny them a chance, and Vics were glad to get into half time just the one down.

HALF-TIME : Northwich Vics 0 Stourport Swifts 1

The second half proved to be a different affair as Vics dominated throughout. Matt Harrison powered a header from a corner which was cleared off the line by a Swifts player with the keeper beaten in the 55th minute. Two minutes later Zeke Eme, and then Will Lloyd tested the keeper with shots whilst Djabi flicked a header just wide a moment later, as Vics pressed hard for the equaliser. Max Sutton then saw his header cleared off the line before Djabi saw an acrobatic overhead kick cannon back off the bar…so unlucky! It started to look as though it wasn’t going to be Vics’ day, but them Sam Deering was sent racing into the box and was crudely chopped down from behind as he was about to pull the trigger. Penalty ! Up stepped Mama Djabi to slam the ball into the bottom left corner despite a valiant effort from Josh Lewis who got a hand to it. It was all Vics and only one team was going to get a winner…Kieron Hamm hammered a shot against a post in the 78th minute whilst Djabi was denied a second by a brilliant save by Lewis a few minutes later. Vics were getting corner after corner but the goal wouldn’t come as the game entered added on time ( mainly given for Swifts' time wasting tactics). Kandeke curled a shot in which was heading for the top corner but Lewis was again equal to it, another top class save. The ball was then floated into the box from yet another corner and in a melee of players Djabi stabbed the ball towards the net and it looked to have been Matty Clarke who got the last touch as he chested the ball over the line…though both are claiming it! Pandemonium erupted with the Vics fans going wild with delight, whilst Stourport complained to the referee. It was late but they all count !

FULL-TIME : Northwich Vics 2 Stourport Swifts 1

They left it late but after a mixed first half, Vics showed their class in the second and it could have been a lot more if it was for a top class display from Swifts keeper Josh Lewis.

NEXT GAME : Saturday 20th Sept : Maghull v Vics 3.00pm ( FA Vase )