CHESTER City's new manager Mark Wright, who was only appointed on Monday night, saw exactly the defensive problems he has inherited, as his new club turned in yet another shambolic and naive performance against their Cheshire neighbours.
Wright has just 16 games left to save Chester from their second relegation in as many years.
And after this performance he will need all the guile of Tom Cruise to achieve what seems to be a Mission Impossible.
The former Liverpool and England central defender watched the match from the Deva Stadium Police Control room, and at times he must have wished that our friends from the Constabulary would have arrested some of his players for loitering without intent.
Chester's caretaker management duo of Owen Brown and Alan Lewer changed the formation of the team from their last outing, when they defeated Hayes 3-1, and the side always looked vulnerable in defence after the previous solid showing against the Londoners.
On this performance Northwich are a workmanlike, if unspectacular side, but in the end their superior work rate just about deserved to take the points.
The visitors took the lead after 28 minutes, Martyn Lancaster allowing Steve Garvey a clear run on goal, and the pintsized player had a simple job to slide the ball past the advancing Wayne Brown in the City goal.
City grabbed an equaliser 10 minutes later, when Chris Blackburn unleashed an unstoppable shot from 20 yards that
gave Vics keeper Paul Gibson no chance.
In a match where there were a number of bone-crunching tackles, the worst came in injury-time in the first half. Val Owen was very lucky to stay on the pitch, following a dreadful over-the-ball tackle on Carl Ruffer, that referee Mr Yates only thought warranted a booking.
The City central defender took no further part in the game, and veteran defender Dean Spink substituted.
In the second period both sides had chances. Quinn flashed a header narrowly over the bar for the visitors, while at the other end City's other leading scorer Mark Beesley, who had a disappointing game shot tamely at Gibson from six yards.
The visitors grabbed the winner in bizarre fashion eight minutes from time.
Jenkins laid a backpass to Brown, who had time to clear. However inexplicably he delayed his clearance allowing Greg Blundell to block the ball.
The ball then rolled agonizingly towards the City goal and Garvey pounced like a flash to knock it into the empty net.
The Chester players had a team meeting in the dressing room for over 45 minutes
following the final whistle, and no doubt Wright gave them a lecture that will be ringing in their ears for many a long day, as relegation becomes more of a reality.
CHESTER CITY: W Brown, Woodyatt, Ruscoe, Jenkins, Ruffer (Spink 45), Lancaster, Blackburn (Haarhoff 87), Carden, D Brown (Collins 62), Beesley, Brabin. Subs: Porter, Jones. NORTHWICH VICTORIA: Gibson, Walsh, Barnard, Owen, Ingram, Talbot, Garvey, Sedgemore (Burke 57), Blundell, Quinn, Devlin. Subs: Mike, Norris, Knowles, Skinner. REFEREE: Mr N Yates (Blackburn) ATTENDANCE: 1,660
