LINE-UP Vics’ -
Mendes, Lawson (Jackson R 45’), Jackson L, Keogh, Sutton (Bentley 83’), Atkinson (Nugent 45’), Coughlan ( Tanswell 54’), Clarke, Whyte (Ferry 40’), Duckworth, Rokka

Goals : Northwich Vics : Duckworth 61’ (Pen), Ferry 66’, Jackson R 85’, Rokka 87’ 90’
: Abbey Hulton : Boyle 9’, Grice 22’, Adu-Gyamfo 67’

Northwich Vics produced an extraordinary second-half comeback this afternoon, turning a seemingly hopeless 3–1 deficit into a stunning 5–3 victory over Abbey Hulton United in one of the most remarkable games witnessed at the Apec Taxis Stadium.
After a sluggish first half had left Vics two goals behind and looking jaded, there appeared to be little indication of what was to come. But this Northwich Vics squad has already shown that they should never be written off — and they produced another extraordinary fightback to claim all three points.
After Wednesday evening’s impressive victory over Bootle, perhaps this was a case of “After the Lord Mayor’s Show” as Vics struggled to find their rhythm during the opening 45 minutes.

The opening exchanges were relatively quiet, with Abbey Hulton firing an early effort wide, while Mikey Lawson was looking dangerous down the Vics right, delivering a couple of decent crosses that unfortunately came to nothing.
Abbey Hulton took the lead in the 9th minute. A superb cross from Sam Finney found Kal Boyle, who headed past Mendes to give the visitors the advantage.
The goal gave Abbey confidence and they began to press forward. Mendes was forced into a good save to keep out a fizzing effort, before another Abbey shot flashed narrowly wide.
Vics were struggling to impose themselves on the game and Abbey doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute. Boyle split the Vics defence with a perfectly weighted through ball, sending Tim Grice through one-on-one with Mendes. The Abbey striker kept his composure and coolly slotted the ball home.
At 2–0 down, it was beginning to look ominous for Vics. Abbey were enjoying the better of the play, although they weren't creating a huge number of clear chances. Vics did have a golden opportunity to get back into the game in the 35th minute when Max Sutton did brilliantly down the left before putting the ball across goal. Joe Duckworth stretched to meet it from just five yards out, but could only steer his effort wide.
There was another setback for Vics five minutes later when Harvey Whyte was forced off through injury, with debutant Luc Ferry, recently signed from New Mills, coming on.
It had been a poor half from Vics. They looked flat, second best in most areas and were struggling to create anything of note.

HALF TIME: Northwich Vics 0–2 Abbey Hulton United

Two further changes were made at half-time to freshen things up — and whatever was said in the dressing room certainly had an effect.
However Abbey should have extended their lead within three minutes of the restart when Matt Ward put Sam Finney through one-on-one. Remarkably, Finney fired wide of the post. It proved to be a huge let-off.
Vics suddenly looked like a completely different side. They were sharper, more aggressive and began causing Abbey problems going forward.
In the 54th minute, Luc Ferry won possession high up the pitch and raced forward, but opted to shoot from an angle when Joe Duckworth was completely free in the middle. The shot flew well over the bar.
Ferry was becoming increasingly influential and went close again in the 58th minute, heading just over the bar from a Vics corner.
Then, in the 61st minute, came the breakthrough when Vics were awarded a penalty, apparently for holding in the box following a corner, although the exact reason was somewhat unclear as the referee did not make it obvious.
Joe Duckworth stepped up and made absolutely no mistake from the spot. 1–2. Game on!
Two minutes later Vics thought they should have had another penalty when Elliot Rokka appeared to be brought down just inside the area. The referee decided the defender had got the ball, although it certainly looked every bit as much a penalty — if not more so — than the one that had just been awarded. Vics weren't going to let that decision stop them and In the 66th minute, they were level.
The ball found Luc Ferry just outside the area. He calmly side-stepped his man before firing a superb finish into the net. 2–2!
But there was another twist as almost immediately, Abbey Hulton broke down the left and worked the ball across the penalty area, where Kingsley Adu-Gyamfi slammed the ball home to restore the visitors' lead. 2–3.
A bitter blow for Vics — but remarkably, it only made them more determined. Vics continued to throw everything forward.
Duckworth fired narrowly wide in the 69th minute, before two minutes later Vics thought they had finally completed the comeback when Sutton fed Rokka inside the area and the striker side-footed the ball into the net. Unfortunately, the flag was already up for offside. Time was beginning to run out though but Vics refused to give up. In the 82nd minute, Rokka produced a clever backheel to set up Duckworth, but the Vics striker could only shoot straight at the Abbey goalkeeper.
Then came five of the most incredible minutes you are ever likely to see.
In the 85th minute, Vics were awarded a free-kick 25 yards from goal, virtually the same position from which Rokka had produced his spectacular effort against Bootle on Wednesday. Could he do it again? Well... almost.
Rokka's free-kick was heading for the top corner, but Abbey goalkeeper Danny Roberts produced a superb save to push the ball away but Ryan Jackson was quickest to react to the rebound and bundled the ball over the line. 3–3!
And Vics weren't finished.
Just two minutes later, the ball was played across to the far post, where Elliot Rokka arrived at precisely the right moment to side-foot the ball into the net. 4–3 NORTHWICH VICS! The Apec Taxis Stadium erupted.
From 0–2 down at half-time and 2–3 behind just moments earlier, Vics had somehow turned the game completely on its head, and then came the icing on the cake. With the clock showing 90 minutes, the ball dropped to Rokka on the edge of the area, and he smashed a magnificent volley into the back of the net. 5–3 !
Abbey Hulton were now completely deflated, while the Vics faithful were celebrating one of the most extraordinary comebacks in recent memory. Vics comfortably saw out the ten minutes of added time and could even have added a sixth in the final minute, but Danny Roberts produced another excellent save to deny Joe Duckworth.

FULL TIME: Northwich Vics 5–3 Abbey Hulton United
What a game. What a comeback. What a second half.
At half-time, Vics looked down and out. Two goals behind, second best in virtually every department and seemingly suffering the effects of Wednesday night's emotional victory over Bootle. But this Northwich Vics side simply refuses to give up.
The transformation after the break was superb. Vics attacked with purpose, pressed higher, created chance after chance and eventually tore a very good Abbey Hulton side apart

And after last week's 4–4 thriller against Bootle, followed by today's eight-goal classic, there is certainly no shortage of entertainment around Northwich Vics at the moment!

Man of the Match: Elliot Rokka
A sensational finish to the afternoon from Rokka, who scored twice in those remarkable final five minutes and turn the game decisively in Vics' favour.
NEXT MATCH
Monday 31st August 2026 — 3:00pm
Midland League Premier
Northwich Vics v West Didsbury & Chorlton
Apec Taxis Stadium, Runcorn