Pete Tonge looks back over Northwich Victoria’s 3-0 loss at Shifnal Town in the Midland League Premier Division…

VICS’ away day woes continued at Shifnal with a very disappointing and unacceptable second-half display.

Vics actually started the match well and on the front foot and could have been two up within 20 minutes if it wasn’t for the excellence of Town’s keeper Yankuba Colley.

Firstly he denied Callum Parker after he had been set through on goal after eight minutes, then he dived to his right to send an Unwin strike wide of the post on the 16th minute.

Shifnal Town weathered the initial Vics attacking threat and started coming into the game more though with little threats on Vics’ goal, with Adam Reid being seriously called into action only once in the first half hour as he comfortably saved a low shot from Joe Cuff.

Unwin was again denied by Colley in the 36th minute as the keeper palmed the ball around the post when Unwin aimed for the far post. Just a minute later, Shifnal took the lead as a corner was flicked on by a Vics head and fell to the far post for Jones to tap home far too easily.

Shifnal killed the match off just three minutes into the second half as striker Cuff was given the freedom of the park to run through the Vics defence and strike past Reid into the net.

Thirteen minutes later, Vics were three down as a flick from Hesson found Cuff who powered through and smashed a shot in by the near post.

Now it was just a matter of playing for pride from Vics, but not a lot of that was happening as Vics’ heads had dropped and they resorted to aimless balls up the field where Parker and Unwin tried hard but just didn’t have the service.

There’s not a lot to say about the second-half performance apart from the fact it wasn’t good enough for a Vics team who are slowly being drawn into a relegation battle if they aren’t careful.

At least Vics are back at home on Saturday after what seems an age. Come on down and give the Vics a lift as they take on fellow strugglers Wolverhampton Casuals at The Barton Stadium, Winsford.

Match facts:

Shifnal Town 3 Northwich Victoria 0

Midland League Premier

At The Acoustafoam Stadium

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Vics: Reid, Camozzi (McWilliams 67’), Ogundare, Barski, Clarke, Gough, Grindrod (Farmer 52’), Switters (Camara 82’), Lynch (Langford 59’), Unwin, Parker. Sub not used: Egerton

Goals: Shifnal Town: Jones 38mins, Cuff 48, 61

Next match: Vics v Wolverhampton Casuals, Saturday, at Barton Stadium, Winsford, kick-off 3pm