LINE-UP Vics’ -
Mendes, Kandeke, Davis, Langley, Sutton, Atkinson (Igoe 79’), Lloyd, Cooke (Harrison 86’),Tanswell (Clarke 71’), Abreu (Yussuf 37’), Leitch-Smith ( Hamm 65’)

Goals :
Northwich Vics : Leitch-Smith 21’, Tanswell 46’
Stone OA : Bowater J 65’ (Pen)

Vics picked up a very important three points on a very wet pitch with a gritty 2 - 1 victory over Stone Old Alleynians. To be honest Vics should have had the game sewn up in the first 45 minutes. Indeed they put the pressure on the Stone defence from the first minute. Josh Langley flicked a header from a corner just wide then Tanswell slipped Abreu through but his effort was well saved by Gill and the rebound shot from Ryan Atkinson skimmed the post. Jefferson Abreu then curled an effort just wide, before forcing a corner moments later as he crossed low from the by-line. The corner was played short to Leitch-Smith who fizzed a shot narrowly past the post via a slight deflection. All this in the first 7 minutes! Stone didn’t have their first real effort until the 13th minute as Mendes in the Vics’ net was forced to parry a stinging effort away and then bravely got down to deny Mitchell Glover on the follow up. Atkinson and then Tanswell both went close again before Vics finally took the lead in the 21st minute with a quality goal as the rain started to hammer down. Will Lloyd found Leitch-Smith with a lofted ball over the top, he brought it down superbly and fired under the keeper to score. Vics continued pressing as conditions worsened with Abreu and then Tanswell forcing fine saves from Stone’s keeper Gill. Vics were then dealt a blow as Jefferson Abreu was forced off with a slight injury, but his substitute Bas Yusuff was quickly into the action as he fired a shot inches wide of the post in the 35th minute. Vics were looking to get a second before half time and went very very close just before the break as Sean Cooke sent a free kick fractionally wide of the far post.
With the rain still falling, and ground conditions worsening, the referee spent half time testing the bounce and roll but with both teams willing to continue the match was given the go ahead to continue. A decision that quickly paid dividends for Vics as they extended their lead in the first minute of the half with a goal that defied the pitch conditions. Some quick one touch football from Yusuff and Lloyd led to Tanswell dancing around his defender and firing into the net. Yusuff then sent in a fantastic cross which just evaded the Vics’ attackers and Atkinson fired wide when well placed as Vics continued pressing. However Stone were slowly coming back into the match as they played the conditions better and in the 66th minute they were awarded a penalty as Luke Askey was brought down in the area and Jack Bowater slammed the ball home despite Mendes getting fingertips to it. Two minutes later, it was nearly disaster for Vics as the ball bounced around their penalty area with Stone having three strikes at goal with the ball pin balling around bouncing off defenders before Vics eventually cleared the ball. Stone were having plenty of the ball now, with Vics defending deep and managing to hold Stone at arms length. The ball was sticking in the waterlogged pitch more and more , especially centrally and a weak back pass by Stone led to Matt Harrison being left one on one with Gill who came sliding way out of goal, and handling the ball in the process and he was unfortunately shown a straight red card, mainly down to the conditions rather than any serious intent. Stone were then forced to play the last 7 minutes with just 10 men and Vics saw the game out fairly easily

Full Time : Northwich Vics 2 Stone OA 1

An excellent first half performance though Vics should have been out of sight by half time, and a gritty more defensive display in the second half which led to three important points, especially with the nearest challengers dropping points in their matches. Ten big matches left !

NEXT GAME:

Tuesday 24th February 2026 : Brocton v Vics 7.45pm
Saturday 28th February 2026 : Vics Uttoxeter Town 3.00pm