LINE-UP Vics’ -
Parkes, Gamble, Jacaj, Gardiner, Hurst, Crane ( Exell 56’), Clarke, Lloyd ( Coughlan 86’), Parker ( Smith 73’), Hughes, Murphy ( Hamm 54’)
Subs Not used : Bennett

GOALS - None

Firstly apologies for lack of detail of any action at the 1874 attacking end of the pitch as it was virtually impossible to make out any detail at that range through the swirling fog that lasted throughout the match with just vague figures running about and no ball to be seen from where I was stood at the Vics’ end!

A draw was probably a fair result with both sides having periods of dominance during the match, but failing to take their chances as they came
Although 74 had an early corner, it was Vics who had the better of the early play as they pushed forward and generally controlled the first half hour or so. Alex Hughes set Callum Parker down the left in the 5th minute, but his low first time cross was well cleared. Vics wasted two well placed free kicks , as firstly a rehearsed free kick routine didn’t go according to plan and then a free kick was hammered into the defensive wall. The best chance came in the 20th minute after good work by Alex Hughes pressurised the keeper and led to Callum Parker firing a half volley just over the bar. 27 minutes in, and Parker fed Hughes who turned well but had his shot well saved by the keeper. Two minutes later, 1874 thought they had scored as they broke from a Vics corner and eventually put the ball in the Vics’ net, How? Who knows as the far end was shrouded in fog! However their joy was short-lived as the referees attention was drawn back to a very patient linesman who had had his flag up for about a minute to indicate that the ball had crossed the line from the Vics’ corner and a goal kick to 1874 was rightly given. 1874 were coming back into the match now and Parkes apparently saved well in an one on one situation. Then in the 37th minute , they thought they had scored again but it was disallowed for offside. 1874 then had a couple of corners which came to nothing and shortly before half time they had Mark Jones sin-binned for mouthing off to the ref.

HALF-TIME : 1874 Northwich 0 Northwich Vics 0

Vics came close just a couple of minutes into the second half as a corner was sent to the near post where Alex Hughes was just pipped to the ball by a 1874 defender. However it was 74 who were having the better of the play at the moment, forcing a few corners and judging from the oohs and ahhhs from that end of the ground, they must have come close in the 52nd minute! Alex Hughes, and then Joe Hurst both had long range efforts wide of the post but it was still 1874 having most of the play but what chances they had is a mystery from the far end. Vics eventually came back into the match more as the game went on, with Hughes striking a shot wide and substitute Kieron Hamm slamming an effort wide via a deflection after beating his man. However 1874 regained the initiative and forced Vics back for the final 10 minutes or so, with debutant keeper Monty Parkes making at least one wonder save according to reports, and further resilient defending by the Vics ensured Vics came away with a well deserved point.

FULL-TIME : 1874 Northwich 0 Northwich Vics 0

A fair result in poor conditions for the spectators.