COMPETITION : Midland League Premier Division
DATE - Saturday 16th November 2024
VENUE - Barton Stadium, Winsford

LINE-UP Vics’ -
Barry, Camozzi, Faulkner, Saunders, Russo, Bennett ( Ogundare 65’), Clarke ( Pennington 89’), Lloyd, Switters ( Smith 59’), Unwin, Parker
Subs Not used : Kelly C, Williams

GOALS - Northwich Vics : Unwin 69’
Stourport Swifts : Hanson J 42’

Following the resignation of Manager Matt Barnes last week, senior players Joe Camozzi and Matty Clarke stepped up to lead the Vics in this match.
With a change to a 3-5-2 formation, It was a slow start by the Vics however, and they nearly went behind as early as the 7th minute when a ball was played through for their attacker to run onto and chip the ball over the onrushing keeper Keir Barry for a certain goal, but Camozzi did wonderfully well in getting back and clearing the ball from the line for a corner. Minutes later, Stourport had a shot whistle over the bar and it wasn’t until the 13th minute before Vics had their first real chance as a great long ball from Dylan Switters found Callum Parker who laid it off to Sam Unwin to fire high over the bar. Stourport were doing most of the pressing however though without creating too many efforts to disturb Barry in net for the Vics. They headed over the bar after a fine cross in from the right, close to the half hour mark and eventually went ahead just before half time as the ball was played along the edge of the Vics’ penalty area before falling for Jim Hanson to smash a shot into the back of the net giving Barry no chance.

HALF-TIME : Northwich Vics 0 Stourport Swifts 1

Whatever Camozzi and Clarke said in the dressing room at half time must have worked as they came out for the second fired up and determined and on the front foot. Parker had a shot just wide, and with Russo looking dangerous down the right, the Vics were carrying more threat up front, with Stourport looking to break quickly on the counter. Russo sliced a shot wide after 58 minutes and Smith fired a free kick straight into the wall a couple of minutes later as Vics pressed for the equaliser. This eventually came in the 69th minute as Parker played a ball over the top for Unwin to beat the offside trap and finish well past the despairing Richards in the Swifts’ net. Vics were on top now and were nearly scored a second as a free kick was headed back across goal by Harris Saunders and Parker’s header forced a brilliant point blank save from Richards. Two minutes later, further chaos in the Swifts penalty area, as the ball ricocheted around with shots being blocked all over the place, how the ball didn’t end up in the net, nobody knows! Vics kept pushing but try as they might, they could nt get a winner as Swifts defence stood firm.

FULL-TIME : Northwich Victoria 1 Stourport Swifts 1

A fully committed second half display from the Vics earning the Vics a deserved point and unlucky not to come away with all 3 by the end.

NEXT MATCH:
Wednesday NOVEMBER 27th v CHEADLE TOWN Away 7.45pm Cheshire Senior Cup Tie to be played at Cheadle Heath Nomads’ ground.