Timing is everything

They scored a second goal during our best moment of the game.

We’d worked the goalkeeper a couple of times and got in behind their defence to ask them a question or two.

But then we just switched off and it’s a poor way to concede from our point of view.

We didn’t then react well, and it’s criminal to let in another goal so soon afterwards.

That’s decided it because they had breathing space.

How did you rate 1874’s performance?

I thought we started well and then dropped off a bit.

They got their noses in front and we had a little wobble, but we stuck at it and in the final 15 minutes of the first-half we came back into the game.

We passed the ball better, and caused them problems.

It was a great save by their goalkeeper from Taylor [Kennerley] and then he reacted brilliantly to save from the rebound as well.

We then scored a good goal.

After going 3-1 down we came back again and they became a bit edgy after conceding the penalty.

We committed men to attack and in the final quarter of an hour or so probably had the better of it.

Northwich Guardian:

Lee Jackson made only his second appearance since September for 1874 Northwich during a 3-2 defeat against Northwich Victoria in a North West Counties League Premier Division encounter on Saturday. Picture:  Ian Dutton

On patching up the team

We’re short on numbers right now; there’s no hiding it.

Danny Meadowcroft pulled out because of illness in the morning and Jack Lever came in and did a good job.

He’s not played with us for a while, but he’s been doing well at Knutsford and also in training.

Jack Pritchard has struggled all the way through too from the fifth minute after he was caught in a challenge.

But he gritted his teeth because he knew we needed him.

We did as well as we could in those circumstances.

Being streetwise

We’ve given away poor free-kicks, something that we’ve stopped doing so much over the past 18 months.

Vics are good in those situations; we know that, and had talked about not giving them an opportunity to put those deliveries into our penalty area.

In games like this, when the two teams are evenly-matched, it’s those details that decide the outcome.

I think that’s where we’ve come up a bit short.

Northwich Guardian:

Michael Koral shapes to shoot at goal during the first-half of 1874 Northwich's North West Counties League encounter with Northwich Victoria at Wincham Park on Saturday. Picture: Ian Dutton

Michael Koral continues to grow

You’re seeing that with every game he plays.

He’s getting stronger, and we felt he gave their left-back a real problem.

If he doesn’t make the challenge that led to the penalty, then Mike pulls the ball back and we have a clear sight of goal.

Our goal in the first-half was a moment of real quality and he’s made it with a perfect weight of pass [for Sam Hare].

We didn’t do that enough in truth – I don’t know why, perhaps there was some anxiety given the occasion – but we got into good positions without producing something from it.

Where from here?

In terms of fixtures, we’re off the Arctic circle on Tuesday!

We’ll see what the weather brings because I know the forecast is uncertain.

As for personnel, we’ll see what bodies we have available but our situation remains unchanged.

If they’re not ready, then we’ll use lads that are.

We’re looking at getting in one or two because of our injury situation but they have to be right for us.