Northwich (A)

NORTHWICH VICTORIA 0 HINCKLEY UNITED 1

Attendance:

By ANDY GIBBS at Victoria Park

A solid defensive performance was the foundation upon which United built their fourth successive league win – a result that takes them into the play-off zone. Adam Webster’s early goal proved decisive in a game of few chances and after The Knitters got themselves in front, they resisted some second half home pressure to earn their victory.

United made one change from Saturday’s win over Stafford, Chukki Eribenne replacing Matt West up front and it took them just 12 minutes to open the scoring. Connor Franklin played a long ball over the top, WEBSTER was left totally unmarked inside the Vics half and ran unattended into the area before producing the classy finish of a man in form to beat Curtis Aspden from the left hand edge of the area for his 17th goal of the season.

Thereafter the first half was a scrappy affair as both sides struggled to contend with the swirling wind and rain, the home side’s greatest threat came from the long throws of Ian Herring whilst United came close to adding to their lead when a long range shot from Andy Gooding flashed wide.

Vics issued a statement of intent by making a double substitution at half-time and pushing former United loanee Matt Bailey from defence to lead their attack, but though the home side enjoyed good spells of possession, they rarely looked like breaking United down. The closest they came was when Mark Danks’ 25 yard free kick was curling into the top corner, but Chris MacKenzie pshed the ball away to safety before the keeper was well placed to keep out an effort from Bailey ten minutes from time.

The Knitters always looked dangerous on the counter, Gooding had three opportunities to kill the hosts off as Hinckley broke quickly from the back, but he twice fired off target before shooting at Aspden when well placed on the edge of the area.

Those missed chances meant The Vics were always in with a shout, but Hinckley defended well as a team, typified late on when Lee Elam’s run took him to the bye-line before whipping in a dangerous cross that was bravely headed clear on the far post by Andy Hall.

HINCKLEY UNITED: MacKenzie, Taylor, Dudley, Lavery, Lister, Franklin, Hall, Gooding, Webster, Eribenne, Cartwright. Subs:  West, Collins, Mace, Hamilton