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Match report from FA Trophy game Tuesday 23rd January
(Pete Wilsons' telephone calls to Brian Edge)
EASTBOURNE 0 V 1 NORTHWICH VICTORIA
Northwich progressed to the next round of the FA Trophy but they did so with a not very inspiring performance.
After two postponements this game was transferred to Hastings and probably as a result it looked to be a very small attendance at the start of the game with VICS fans probably totalling around 20.
Manager Steve Burr sprang a bit of a surprise with his starting line up as he opted for a 5-31 formation with Gareth Griffiths returning to the side after his injury lay-off operating in the middle with Charnock and Roberts alongside him whilst captain Stuart Elliott also returned after suspension.
The substitutes virtually picked themselves as Senior and Byrne were both unfit.
In all honesty nothing very much happened in the opening quarter of an hour as the home side huffed and puffed a little without causing any threat at all and Connett had nothing to do.
After 18 minutes VICS took the lead with yet another wonderful strike from leading scorer Paul BRAYSON.
Barwick and Allan combined well with a good exchange of passes but when the ball was cleared it went to Brayson on the edge of the 18-yard box and he curved an excellent shot into the top corner giving the home goalkeeper no chance.
After the goal there was still very little real action and it was the 33rd minute when Connett had to do his first bit of work on the night and this was simply to easily catch a poor shot from Lovett.
Soon after Jonny Allan should have increased the lead but after being well set-up by Brayson he saw his shot deflected wide.
Connett then flapped at another cross from Lovett to give Vics their only scare of the half and then right on half time another piece of skill by Brayson should have produced a second goal. The striker was well-placed to repeat his earlier strike but instead laid the ball square to Michael Carr who shot just inches wide with the keeper beaten.
Half-Time 0-1
After the interval it was a different Eastbourne side as they immediately took the game to VICS and after 47 minutes Smart shot over following some good approach play. The home side continued to press and minutes later Connett did well to palm away a shot from Wilde.
Eastbourne were beginning to really show what they were capable of as they started to build some concerted pressure on VICS and although Jonny Allan did break through to shoot well wide it really was almost one-way traffic with VICS having to defend valiantly as chance after chance was being created against them.
Smart saw another shot beaten out by Connett and once again the VICS keeper showed what was good and what was not so good about his goalkeeping skills. He produced another fine save on the hour and then just managed to scamper to the loose ball before Eastbourne could equalise and then moments later he was flapping at a cross giving the VICS supporters some very nervous moments.
Armstrong easily outpaced Griffiths and when a cross might have been more fruitful he elected to shoot but only succeeded in finding the side netting.
On 62 minutes Townson came on to replace an out of sorts Allan but in truth the substitution made no difference to VICS performance as the home side continued their push for a goal.
In the 63rd minute Armstrong hit a great shot from twenty yards and hit the bar as Connett stood rooted and at this stage VICS looked very uncomfortable and their lead was a very shaky one!
In the 70th minute a surprise substitution saw Sale replace Brayson.
The best chance of the half for VICS came in the 78th minute when Townson was put through and in his one-on-one situation with the keeper he succeeded in shooting straight at the custodian and the chance to make the tie safe had gone.
After 86 minutes Battersby replaced Barwick/
There was no doubt that the home side were the better side in the second half and most certainly deserved something for all their efforts. That reward almost arrived on two occasions – firstly when after more good work by Lovett his cross was scrambled clear and the in the 87th minute Jenkins headed against the bar with Connett struggling.
So when the final whistle came it was Northwich who could look forward to a trip to Histon in the next round but if they are to progress further in this competition then a better performance than this one will surely be needed.
Team: Connett; McCarthy, Roberts, Griffiths, Charnock, Elliott;
Carr, Beaumont, Barwick (Battersby 86); Brayson (Sale 70) and Allan (Townson 62).
Substitutes not used: Roca and Brown
Attendance: not announced but approx 250
Man of the Match: Paul Brayson
Pete W
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