Northwich Paul Gibson Denny Ingram Mark Barnard Gary Talbot Chris Royle Porter Steve Garvey Richard Norris Mark Devlin Gregg Blundell John Grant Substitutes Jimmy Quinn Jake Sedgemore Gary Burke Darren Knowles Skinner

Goals Grant Hill   Stein Stats 10 Goal Attempts 11 6 On Target 7 3 Off Target 4 1 Hit Woodwork 0 6 Corners 4 Cards Yellow Ingram West Grant Shipp   Hill Red None Cole

Dag & Red Paul Gothard Tim Cole Steve West Mark Rooney Dean Hooper Danny Shipp Steve Heffer Danny Hill Mark Stein Junior McDougald Danny Hayzelden Substitutes Matt Jones Steve McGavin Ken Charlery Mark Smith Neville Southall

The Daggers remembered how to win away from home as they stole the points with a 90th minute winner from the evergreen Mark Stein, but not before they had gone down to ten men and Gothard had saved a penalty. The formation was the same as against Morecambe, but Heffer replaced Terry and Cole replaced Goodwin. The lack of full backs was causing some problems for the Daggers, and the Vics main threat was when they played long balls into the gaps behind the wing backs.

The game tok a while to get started as has been customary in recent weeks, but when it did spark into life, it produced two quick goals. A long ball in benhind Hayzelden fell to Blundell and Cole didn't do his job and with sweeper Rooney nowhere to be seen, Blundell simply squared it to Grant who slotted the ball home from close range. However, the Daggers were doing well at the other end, with Danny Hill putting ain a first half performance that left in no doubt that this man used to play at the highest level. His passing was pinpoint accurate, and although the lack of movement in front of him meant he had little to aim at, he always found a blue shirt.

Indeed it was Hill who got the Daggers back on level terms within minutes. A long ball forward caught the defence in two minds, and Stein nipped in to square to Hill who had a simple task to put the ball into the net. The Daggers were having most of the ball and sepnt a long period in the home team's half, but Northwich were looking dangerous on the break as returnee Cole looked out of sorts alongside West. However, Stein could have put the Daggers in the lead as he met a cross from the right and headed over the bar when unmarked.

At the other end, again the ball in behind Hayzelden was causing problems, and Northwich also had a chance to take the lead. Grant hit a low shot which Gothard got to but could only push out to Blundell. With the goal gaping and only a few yards out he somehow cushioned the ball wide of the post. Shipp then had a chance at the other end in what really was an end-to-end game as both sides went for it. He got the ball 25 yards out and went on a mazy run through the defence before sidefooting a shot just wide of the post. A Hill free kick also had to be well saved by Gibson and Stein tried to square the rebound across goal only for it to be leathered clear. Northwich had another chance as Blundell got to a long ball in the box but Gothard had rushed off his line to block it and the ball rolled just wide. Gothard had ealrier had another scare as Royle run at the defence and slammed a 25 yarder against the post.

The second half was not as filled with chances as the first, but the best chances fell to the visiting team. Stein had an early effort well saved by the keeper as he hit a left foot volley on the turn only for Gibson to paw it round the post. The game was then bereft of anything resembling excitement for a long period as both sides hit the long ball, although Northwich had more possession and held the Daggers back quite a lot. They didn't really threaten the goal though and the Daggers came back into it in the last quarter. Charlery came off the bench and hit a volley from a corner that was straight at the keeper, and then Charlery crossed for the unmarked Stein who ballooned it from 6 yards with the bumpy pitch probably not helping, in the same way it had not helped Blundell from a similar distance in the first half. Stein had another chance as the keeper kicked a clearance at his own defender and Stein tried the lob on the turn which fel wide of the target. Northwich's best effort was a header saved by Gothard, but they had a great chance near the end when they got a penalty.

Cole chased a long back towards goal but was being outpaced by the striker. Cole pulled the man back and the penalty was given and Cole was dismissed. Down to ten men and with a penalty given against them, the fans were in despair. But Gothard produced a superb save to his left from a well placed penalty by Ingram to keep it level. Minutes later, McGavin liften the ball into the box, Stein outmuscled the defender and slipped the ball under Gibson and into the net to send the away support mental. Somehow, after staring defeat in the face when the penalty was given, they turned the game and collected the three points to keep the title race going.