Saturday 29th November 2008
Vics 0 v 1 Crawley 

Despite recent optimism Northwich slumped to a fourth successive home defeat and although few would deny their battling attributes they were never able to sustain the quality neccessary to overcome solid but uninspiring opposition.

Both teams created early half chances but Wagstaffe failed by centimetres to convert a Brown cross at the far post before Tynan was slow to react to a long through ball but recovered sufficiently to deny Michael Malcolm with a full stretch save. Otherwise, with innovative play sporadic, both teams appeared to be heading for a first half stalemate.Vics did produce the move of the half but Winn was unable to guide a subsequent Brown cross the right side of the near post. Byrom ended the half on a high note with a shot that Raynor scrambled away from the foot of his post with some difficulty.

Both defences survived anxious moments at the opening of the second period before Winn looked to have opened the scoring for Vics until his goal bound shot was deflected wide of goal with Raynor floundering. However just as quickly proceedings returned to a more mundane period and too much of the game was being played in the air. Both managers introduced double subtitutions and Crawley appeared to benefit from these chages more than Vics.

Tynan pulled off a superb goal line save and then Aspin headed off his line to keep parity. Yet as the game entered its closing stages it was undeniably Crawley who began to look the most likely winners. And with five minutes remaining substitute FLETCHER directed a far post header goalward and with the help of a hapless intervention and deflection from Aspin the home keeper was left helpless to prevent the winning goal.

Peter Winn, always Vics best hope of producing a goal, almost claimed a stoppage time leveller, but his 20 yard shot flashed narrowly wide.

Team: 3-5-1
Tynan /
Aspin, Robinson, Grand, Brown /
Wagstaff (Lodge 76), Crowell, Byrom (Stamp 65), Winn /
Burns (Steele 65) /
Subs not used: Welch & Flynn
Referee: J. Collin

Attendance: 610

Man of the Match: Steve Robinson - A hugely impressive debut by the giant defender -