On a cold night in Cheshire and the Grecians first visit to the Victoria Ground, the brand new home of Northwich Victoria. It was the team from Devon that returned back home with no points to show for their efforts but in all honesty never really threatened and the game was also watched by former employee Danny Woodards and his Manager Dario Gradi.

Paul Tisdale made one change from the starting 11 that started the game on Saturday against Morecambe with Bertie Cozic replacing the injured Paul Buckle.

In the first half the game resembled a game of chess with both teams snuffing out any real clear cut chances but chances were few and far between, and often Jon Challinor dropped deep to receive the ball but saw little light in front of goal. One chance of note in the first half fell to Billy Jones who scampered into the box from a flighted free kick from Wayne Carlisle but a Northwich defender made a timely intervention.

In the early part of the second half a chance was created by Berie Cozic who had managed to wiggle free of two challenges from the Northwich rearguard and just when it looked like he was going to score he somehow managed to pull the ball wide and equally a good chance fell to Northwich when a deep cross was played in only for the Northwich attacker to head his shot over the bar when in theory he should have at least made Paul Jones make a save.

Challinor in frustration clumsily brought down a Northwich midfielder but fortunately for the Grecians escaped a yellow card after being lengthily lectured by the official and was replaced on the hour mark by match winner on Saturday Richard Logan.

The pendulum of the clock then changed completely as just when you thought that the game was destined to remain goalless the referee deemed that Chris Todd had handled in the area and awarded a penalty to the home side and despite the efforts of Paul Jones guessing the right way the Northwich player planted the ball at the back of the net to make it Northwich 1 City 0.

Soon after the Grecians could have been on level terms as they were awarded a free kick which was taken by free kick specialist Billy Jones and was destined for the top corner of the net but the Northwich goalkeeper produced a spectacular save to tip the ball over the crossbar much to the disappointment of the travelling reds and to make things worse the Grecians suffered another injury blow in the middle of the park when Bertie Cozic turned his ankle and had to be replaced by Andy Taylor.

Also Adam Stansfield replaced Lee Phillips for the remaining seven minutes plus a whopping six minutes injury time and caused the Northwich rearguard problems with his pace and trickery but should have done better when played in from a deep cross by Richard Logan but unfortunately he placed his header straight at the Northwich goalkeeper. So 1:0 was the way the game stayed much to the dismay of the highly credible 150 + away fans and let us hope that the Grecians can readdress this result against York on Saturday and in the next few games on the road.

MAN OF THE MATCH ROB EDWARDS. A cool and accomplished performance again at the heart of the City rearguard.