Novara are now in 11th position in the Serie B table, after getting a win 1-0 against fellow relegation candidates Pro Vercelli.
After a pretty dull opening 20 minutes it was the Biancoazzurri who took the lead through a sublime free-kick from Benito Nicolas Viola, who curled the set-piece over the wall and into the top corner of the net, giving the goalkeeper no chance.
Novara managed to hold their lead for the rest of the half, but after half-time they came very close to giving it away. Pro Vercelli played some nice stuff to get the ball up the left-wing and when the cross came in it was met by Francesco Ardizzone, but his shot was magnificently saved by David Da Costa in the Biancoazzurri goal.
Da Costa turned out to the be the hero of the match as he kept Pro Vercelli at bay a number of times to give Novara all three points.
Vicenza missed the chance to go above Crotone in the table after they drew 0-0 in the Stadio Romeo Menti. Despite a tight start to the game in which both teams cancelled each other out, it was Crotone full-back Salvatore D’Elia almost scored an own-goal as he stupidly connected with a cross which almost outwitted his goalkeeper, who managed to recover to stop it from going in.
The Biancorossi were then given a penalty after a Rossoblu defender handled the ball inadvertently in the box. However, Stefano Giacomelli couldn’t take advantage, as he slipped on his run-up leading him to fire over the bar.
After this, both sides pushed to win the game but neither could come up with the required quality to but the ball into the back of the net meaning that Crotone stay in the top two automatic promotion spots.
