Northwich score at death
NEVER leave a Northwich Victoria game before the final whistle, if it’s the FA Cup, you’ll miss the best bits.
Silsden’s last-minute leveller at Wincham Park in the previous round set up a rematch that was settled by John Connolly’s late goal, returning the favour to send Vics through.
The script this time around had an added plot twist.
Inside 80 minutes, the two teams had hit the target only once between them and most of those inside Wincham Park could be forgiven for clearing their diary to watch a replay next week.
But then everything happened.
Prescot thought they had pinched it when James Edgar converted a penalty after an out-of-position Jack Fleming grabbed a fistful of Lloyd Dean’s shirt.
Cables, higher-ranked, celebrated as if they though their work on a stifling afternoon was done.
However Steve Wilkes’ side is sturdier than that.
His decision to send on Connolly as a substitute was inspired, and the replacement’s skidding header from Joel Brownhill’s wicked cross was spilled by goalkeeper Oliver Taylor.
Tom Kilifin, quick as a flash, nudged the loose ball over the line.
The clock had ticked past 90 minutes, but there was to be no sequel.
Instead Kilifin, from even closer to the target, stooped to apply a decisive touch when Connolly helped on Michael Wilson’s free-kick from deep.
“We like taking the long way round,” said Wilkes.
“When they score so late, you worry it’s done and dusted but then Tom did what he did best and turned it around.”
There was nothing between the teams for the most part.
Rob Doran, playing against one of his former clubs, sent an angled shot wide of the far post for Vics in the first-half.
They conjured a clearer chance when captain Joe Camozzi slipped a clever pass to Kilifin, but his driven cross was inches in front of both Doran and Jamie Reed. Cables will have cursed when Dean twice fired wide when well-placed, on each occasion when Steven Yawson teed him up.
The home team were incisive, at least initially, after the interval when Ryan Winder’s half-volley from distance flashed past a post and then when Doran improvised with a hook shot that went the same way.
Prescot responded, and James Cooper glanced wide from Matty Hamilton’s free-kick.
Yawson then invited Edgar into space behind Vics’ defence but his low centre was smuggled clear by Wilson.
Both teams would likely have stopped altogether when referee Oliver Noonan interrupted the second-half for drinks. Turns out they were only fuelling up for
that frantic finish. BARKING secured their first win of the season and some vital prize money as goals either side of half time secured a 2-1 victory over Aveley.
Barking had the early pressure and were rewarded after 18 minutes as David Hughes could only palm a shot by Emmanuel Ighorae into the path of Johnnny Ashman who prodded the ball home.
Aveley were level after the break as Wyan Reid stooped low to head home despite the efforts of debutant Mitchell Ware.
The teams were level for a matter of minutes as Nana Boakye-Yiadom turned his defender to latch onto a through ball and rifle the ball low into the net.
Aveley pushed forward in the final 30 minutes but failed to challenge a resolute Barking defence.
It was a workmanlike and professional performance from Barking who delivered a solid showing the competition when it mattered most against determined and resolute opposition.
STAR MAN: Boakye-Yiadom (Bark) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★