Well, a win under the new management team has been a long time coming, but it was well worth waiting for. Vics were given a boost by the return of Malakai McKenzie after a spell playing in Spain and they also gave debuts to youngsters, keeper Zac Prior and defender Karsten Cairns who had been brought in on loan from Shrewsbury Town.
It was a fairly quiet start to the match with the first real effort from either team not coming until the 10th minute when the Dudley No.10 fired a shot just wide. Six minutes later, Matt Funge was one on one with keeper Prior forcing him to make an excellent save. Dudley were having the best of it now, and after having a long shot just wide, they went ahead in the 19th minute when Funge flicked a header wide of Prior into the net after good work down the right. Vics now started working their way back into the match with McKenzie, Deering and Lloyd coming into the match more. Lloyd had a 20 yard shot just wide in the 29th minute after he did well to wriggle free of his marker whilst a free kick a few minutes later from Sam Gill caused a scramble in the Dudley box but the ball was eventually cleared. Dudley should have gone further ahead in the 43rd minute when a free kick from the right went right across the box and was sent right back in flashing across the goal, causing Hurst to clear off the line. Vics responded well and went up the other end with McKenzie cutting in from the left and sending a beautiful ball through to Sam Deering who delicately chipped the Dudley keeper to equalise for Vics just before half-time.

HALF-TIME : Dudley Town 1 Northwich Vics 1

Vics started the second half quickly and after great work from Hurst down the right, he laid the ball back for Clarke to strike an effort just over the bar. Sam Gill then fired a free kick from 25 yards which was tipped round the post for a corner which was played back to McKenzie on the edge of the area .McKenzie cleverly flicked the ball forward to Deering who got just enough on his header to beat the keeper and the liner ruled the ball had just crossed the line before it was cleared by a defender. Goal given ! Deering then nearly got on the end of another great Hurst ball in, but was just beaten to it by the keeper. However Dudley were now forcing Vics back more and more, but Vics were defending well though Dudley should have done better when Matt Funge was set though with just Prior to beat but he sent his shot wide of the net. In the 70th minute, Tom Owen for Dudley struck a 25 yarder which was deflected for a corner from which Jordon Davies headed over from 6 yards. It was Davies again a minute later who forced Prior into a fine save to tip a shot round the post. It looked like Vics were going to hold out , but they were unlucky in the 79th minute as a cross was sent in from the left and it hit a Vics’ head which deflected it into the net wrong footing Prior. 2 all, 10 minutes to go and the pressure was on Vics but they were coping well and then as the match entered added time, the ball was cleared up to the half way line where substitute Kieron Frost won the ball well, strode forward and went round the keeper, and calmly stroked the ball home from a fairly acute angle to send the Vics’ faithful delirious.

FULL-TIME : Dudley Town 2 Northwich Vics 3

A fully deserved win for the Vics in a display full of passion, determination and a good deal of quality football. A good all round team performance capped by a last minute winner, who could want more?

Next Match :
Saturday 15th February Away v Tividale 3.00pm