Shaymen knocked out of the FA Cup at a cold but sunny Wincham Park (Witton Albion ground-shared by Northwich for the season). The difference between the sides being an accurate angled shot into the net on 41 minutes by Northwich’s Chris Thompson. Ex-Town keeper Andy Woods in goal for the Vics caught everything in the air and mastered his penalty area. Town should be putting teams like this to the “Sword”.

First Half

The first half was a very drab even affair, which didn’t get lively until around the half hour mark.

17 Zico-Black crossed across the Town goal, ball goes out wide left.

18 Ward booked for an off the ball foul on Mallon.

20 First Town corner after good work from Bushell and Hudson. Corner cleared by defence.

23 Goalmouth clearance by Sandwith after a cross/shot from the left.

25 Sandwith free kick easily caught by Woods.

29 Hudson found an opportunity after interchanges between Killeen and Lee, but the shot was wide and left of the target.

29 Mallon made an infield run, his distant shot easily caught by Woods.

41 Goal Northwich -Ward received the ball unmarked in the Town area, slid it wide left for Thompson to pass into the net from a narrow angle.

45+2 Hockenhull cross from the left found Bushell’s head but the ball came back off Woods right post.

Second Half

Northwich came out showing they were up for the Cup. Town couldn’t get going until a double substitution brought extra pace from Midgley and Sagare.

47 Garvey pass to Blackburn out on the left wing, cross is scrambled away for a throw by the Town defence.

52 Thompson shot over Cartwight’s cross bar.

55 Shot from Garvey goes well wide after a cross from what looked an offside position on the right.

67 Lee pass to Sagare returns to Lee, who shoots wide right. Should have done better.

69 Good left wing run by Sagare, produces a corner. The corner is caught by Woods.

74 Another Bushell corner caught by Woods.

77 Killeen run down the left, cuts inside unleashes a shot wide of Woods left post.

80 Midgley free kick caught by Woods.

81 Another corner Bushell to Dudgeon header caught by Woods.

84 Foran knocks over from eight yards with the Town goal begging after Northwich’s first corner wasn’t cleared.

87 Hockenhull on the right sent a deep cross to Sagare on the far post, heads into the area, ball cleared to Bushell, but his shot flies over.

Nortwich tried to take the ball to the corner flag at every opportunity after the 83 rd minute. Town still couldn’t equalise to force a replay with over 4 minutes of added time.