Dudley Town V Northwich Victoria (Premier Division)

Dudley were looking to continue their impressive start to the season with a result against Northwich Victoria yesterday. The Robins had started their league campaign with three consecutive wins to sit near the top of the table which included beating the likes of Winsford United, Lye and Romulus.  

There also through to the second qualifying round of the FA vase following a 2-0 win at Wolverhampton Casuals last weekend.

It feels like the club is on an upward trajectory under manager Matty Lovatt and there building some momentum at step five.

Harry Crook and Matt Funge were in form with six goals combined to start the new season.   

Northwich Victoria are also building some momentum under manager Lee Duckworth who was appointed in the middle of last season. It’s been an eye-catching summer for the Vics with former football league players Harry Davis and AJ Leitch-Smith joining the squad and adding experience.   

The visitors were a side in form going into yesterday’s match with two wins from their first three league games. They were coming off an encouraging 6-1 win against newly promoted Abbey Hulton United on Bank Holiday Monday.

They are also through to the second qualifying round of the FA vase following a 2-0 home win over Winterton Rangers last weekend.

One of their main strengths has been at the back with only three goals conceded in the premier division which is behind only AFC Wolverhampton City (One) and Hanley Town (Two).

Starting line ups

The starting line up for Dudley Town included Tom Carter starting in goal and Jamie Beddall captaining the side as part of a back three. The formation looked like a 5-3-2 with Matt Funge and Harry Crook playing up front and being supported by Ethan Muckley in the number ten role.

There were no changes from their match against Romulus on Monday with Matty Lovatt naming the same starting eleven.

Northwich Victoria’s starting line up included Andre Mendes starting in goal and Matty Clarke captaining the side from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with AJ Leitch-Smith playing up front and being supported by Ryan Atkinson and Jefferson Abreu on the wings.

There was one change from their match against Abbey Hulton United on Monday with Mike Lawson coming into the team and playing at centre back alongside Harry Davis. 

​First Half

The visitors got off to a quick start and looked a threat in the opening fifteen minutes of the first half.

The Vics were threatening from a couple of dangerous free kicks into the box and found the breakthrough when a second ball found Harry Davis who produced a quality finish into the bottom right corner for 1-0 on 8 minutes.   

​Dudley gradually grew into the match as the first half went on and stopped some of the Northwich momentum following the goal. Joe Colley was reading the danger well as part of a back three and helped the Robins settle into the match. Full back Tom Owen also looked a threat down the left-hand side and served as an out ball to take some of the pressure off Dudley.  

The visitors looked sharp on and off the ball and were causing Dudley problems. Jefferson Abreu was making things happen down the left-hand side and taking players on for Northwich. Mike Lawson also defended well at centre back and broke up promising Dudley attacks.

The clear-cut chances in front of goal were limited for large spells of the first half with both sides struggling with that final ball into the box.

There was a bad looking injury to captain Jamie Beddall in the 43rd minute who was leading by example for Dudley in the first half and defended well on the right of a back three. Robins’ supporters will hope it’s nothing too long-term as he played well yesterday and stood up to the Northwich pressure.   

The visitors had a few late chances to make it 2-0 in the final stages of the first half. Ryan Atkinson broke free in the box before sending a chipped effort over the bar. Will Lloyd also had a shot go wide of the top right corner following some good build up play.

Second Half

Dudley changed their formation to 4-2-3-1 at the start of the second half with Jordan Davies coming on for Jamie Beddall and playing in attacking midfield. Matt Funge was playing as the number nine and was supported by Ethan Muckley and Harry Crook on the wings.

The Robins started well in the opening five minutes and were building some momentum in the final third. Their best chance for an equaliser came when Tom Owen delivered a dangerous free kick into the box that found Lewis Riley-Stewart whose header was saved by Andre Mendes in the 47th minute.

Just as Dudley were starting to get on the front foot, they were caught on the break to make it 2-0 to the visitors. Mamadou Djabi found some space down the right-hand side before squaring the ball to Jefferson Abreu who finished at the back post in the 51st minute.

It was tough on Dudley, but the visitors were clinical in the box yesterday and took their chances well to have some breathing space in the second half.

The Robins showed flashes of their attacking quality up front and created some notable chances. Jordan Davis beat a few players down the left-hand side before crossing it to Matt Funge who fired wide on the hour mark.

Northwich were resolute off the ball yesterday and looked like a side with one of the best defensive records in the league. Matty Clarke was doing a brilliant job of tracking back and shielding the back four and stood out for the Vics.

They also looked a threat on the break with Mamadou Djabi coming on for AJ Leitch-Smith and helping to build up the play in the final third.  

Substitute Sean Cooke had a couple of good chances to wrap up the game for Northwich in the middle of the second half. He was through on goal before having a shot well saved by Tom Carter in the 67th minute. He also struck a free kick that hit the far post a few minutes later.

Dudley showed character in the final twenty minutes and kept going in search of a way back into the match. They had a sustained spell of momentum on the Northwich goal and showed glimpses of their attacking quality in the final third.

Eli Enyan made a promising run down the right-hand side before playing a good ball to Jordan Davis whose shot was blocked for a corner on 86 minutes.

Harry Crook also created some space in the box before having a shot well saved by Andre Mendes in the 90th minute.

It felt like something to build on for Dudley and it was starting to click in front of goal in the final stages of the second half.

None the less, Northwich put in a professional performance to see out the match and were applauded by a notable away following at full time.

The win puts them top of the league on goal difference, and it was an encouraging away performance from the Vics.

Upcoming fixtures                     

Dudley have the chance to bounce back quickly with a busy run of games coming up throughout September. They have a run of homes games against Brocton (Tuesday), Stone Old Alleynians (Saturday) and Coton Green (Tuesday 9th September) at the Guardian Warehousing Arena before travelling to Hanley Town on Saturday 13th September.

The Robins then play Stourport Swifts at home in the second qualifying round of the FA vase on Saturday 20th September

Northwich will be looking to keep their impressive form going against Whitchurch Alport (Home) on Wednesday before travelling to Highgate United (Next Saturday) and Stone Old Alleynians (Tuesday 9th September).

The Vics then play Stourport Swifts at home (Saturday 13th September) before playing Maghull (Away) in the FA Vase on the 20th of September.     

FT score: Dudley Town 0-2 Northwich Victoria

Man of the match: Matty Clarke (Northwich Victoria)

Attendance: 153

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League