Kingstonian 1 Northwich Vics 0

A H'TLY disputed penalty in the dying minutes of the game robbed Vics of what would have been a well deserved point.

From a Colin Luckett corner the ball appeared to strike Mark Bailey's hand and despite strong protests from the Vics players the referee awarded a penalty and then to add insult to injury duly showed Bailey his second yellow card.

This was scant reward for a player who had been outstanding throughout the game.

The penalty award came from the last of three consecutive corners as Kingstonian made one final sustained effort to break the deadlock.

Kick taker Luckett stepped up to take the resultant penalty and duly converted to spoil all Vics hard work.

It was they who came nearest to opening the score early in the game when Devlin headed inches wide from a probing Bailey cross in the sixth minute, then Bailey latched on to a long through ball from Robertson and his shot was comfortably saved.

Kingstonian were finding it difficult to get past a solid Vics defence and when they finally did Lance Key was on hand to save well from Geoff Pitcher.

As half time approached Vics were desperately unlucky when an Adie Mike header hit the crossbar while Kingstonian responded immediately when the unmarked Sammy Winstons point blank header was acrobatically saved by Key, deputising for the suspended Malcolm Rigby.

The second half followed a similar pattern as the first with the Vics defence dominating the home attack, but as the game progressed the Vics forwards were making little or no impact themselves.

But at no time were Vics second best and, up until the last minute drama, had comfortably earned a share of the points.