Northwich Victoria vs Skelmersdale United - 15th July 2017

Vics started brightly, and the first chance fell to them, when Brian Matthews couldn't quite finish after the opposition keeper failed to cleanly take a whipped in cross from Stu McDonald. After 6 minutes, Vics gained a corner but Reece Lyndon s header just went wide. Skelmersdale themselves then had a chance but Ritchie Mottram in the Vics goal was equal to the shot. Vic's took the lead after 16 minutes when Brian Matthews sent a delightful ball through to Stuart McDonald who beat his man in the box, but was then brought down for a penalty. Matthews cooly sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot. Vic's continued to press, and a Matty Shaw free kick flashed across the goalmouth but no one could touch it in. 31 minutes in, and Matthews tried a cheeky lob over the keeper, who just managed to save it, whilst after 33 minutes, former Vics player Bevan Burey was sent through one on one with the keeper, but Mottram did enough to put him off and it ended with a goal kick. The play was fairly even with both teams pressing, and it was Skelmersdale who came closest when after a good one - two, they got a shot away which took a deflection for a corner, which ultimately came to nothing.

Half- time Vics 1 Skelmersdale Utd 0

The second half was only 2 minutes old, when Brian Matthews chased a back pass and closed onto the keeper whose clearance bounced off him, and led to a simple finish for Vics star man.
The game then went quiet, with a lot of midfield play and not much goalmouth action. After 63 minutes, Skelmersdale did manage a sliced shot wide after a good break down the left wing, and a few minutes later another shot was skied over the bar. Vics did manage another effort on goal when after some good looking build up play, Lee Turkington’s curling shot went just over the bar.. Skelemersdale had the best chance after 75 minutes, when good play led to a shot from inside the box, but Vics managed to scramble it from the goal line. Skelmersdale were having the better of the play now and Ritchie Mottram had to produce a great double save after 88 mins , as they piled the pressure on. Vics however held firm to claim a well deserved 2- 0 win

Final score : Northwich Victoria 2-0 Skelmersdale United

Well deserved victory , plenty of passion and a very encouraging performance from the lads.