Winsford Utd Vs Northwich Victoria FC-League 7/4/18

COMPETITION - North West Counties Premier Division.

VENUE - Barton Stadium, Winsford, Cheshire.

DATE - Saturday 7th April 2018.
Attention - 174.

LINE-UP's -

Winsford - Chapman, Fowles (Bircumshaw 59') Duckworth, Clarke (caution), Hopper, Foster (C), Steele, Rothwell, Koral, Gardner, Daniels (caution).

Un-used subs' - Taylor, Manco, Osborne.

Vics' - Donlon, Clarke, Lawrence, Weston (caution), Barski, Johnson (Whittington 81'), Bickett, Robinson (Durnin H/T), Bennett (Gorman 81'), Matthews, Hassall.

Un-used subs' - Adam Weston, Anthony Shinks.

Unavailable for Vics' - Yaw Gyimah (knee), Kieron Kenny (suspension), Jordan Grant (unavailable).

GOALS -
Winsford - Callum Gardner 66' (pen), Declan Daniels 87'.

Vics' - Brian Matthews 30', George Hassall 42', Oscar Durnin 73'.

Vics' M.O.M - Liam Bickett. Typically ebullient and creative performance from the Trickies' midfield schemer and stepped up further upon the resumption following fellow inspired midfielder' Adam Robinson's sickening injury. Mr consistency.

The game began with both sides' testing each other out with them both looking rusty after both not having played much football recently due to the bad weather.
The games first chance fell to Vics' back-marker Brandon Barski on 11' who wastefully headed over the cross-bar unmarked from six yards out following an excellent corner-kick delivery by Dan Johnson.
On 16' Vics' hit-man Bri Matthews' low raking shot from 18 yards was saved well by the keeper after Adam Robinson teed him up.
Blues responded on 21' through Callum Gardners' twenty-yard free-kick which Vics' glove-man Donlon parried low down round the post.
Vics' took the lead on the half-hour; Brian Matthews nodded Vics' into the lead from short range via the inside of the post and luckless Blues' keeper' Ben Chapman's outstretched arms after Adam Robinson had crossed beautifully into the far post area.
George Hassall doubled the lead when he rounded keeper' Chapman and rolled the ball into an empty net from 8 yards after latching onto Adam Robinson's slide-rule pass following an Adam Lawrence' long through-ball on 42'. Influential Adam Robinson battled through to half-time after being subjected to a crude tackle but had to be taken to hospital during the interval via ambulance with an horrific gash to his leg.

HALF-TIME - Winsford 0-2 Vics'.

Winsford came out more determined in the second half, Declan Daniels stung Mike Donlon's fingers with a rasping drive from the edge of the area after slick work by fellow front-man Mike Koral on 52'. Blues' did halve the arrears though via a penalty scored by Callam Gardner on 66'. Vics' defender Brandon Barski had clipped Mike Koral's heels just inside the area. Vics' keeper' Donlon managed to get his fingertips to the well-struck free hit but the ball crept in just inside the post.
Vics' sub' Oscar Durnin made sure of the points on 73' when he beat the offside trap racing onto game-star Liam Bickett's cushioned pass and finished emphatically past Ben Chapman with the inside of his right foot on an angle from 13 yards. Brian Matthews was then played in by Matty Clarke but Chapman was equal to his impudent chip after he had spotted him slightly off his goal-line.
Declan Daniels ensured a nervy finish for the Green and Whites' when he drove home right-footed from short range after latching onto James Rothwell's centre on 87'.

FULL TIME- Winsford 2-3 Vics'.

Vics' boss Steve Wilkes' verdict -

A really pleasing performance from the lads yesterday , especially on the back of two poor ones against Irlam and Burscough and not playing a game for 11 days. The boys dug deep and showed me some fighting spirit. It's always nice to see your front two score as they did today, but the lads at the back and Donners (Mike Donlon) threw their bodies on the line for me today, many times. The horrific injury to Adam Robinson saw two players being physically sick at half-time. We knew we had to get the three points and the lads deserve credit for doing that, as do the supporters who were once again brilliant.

Up next for Vics' is another NWCFL Premier Division fixture Vs Squires Gate FC (A) on Tues 10th Apr - K.O 19:45. Stadium address - School Lane, Blackpool, Lancashire. Postcode for sat-nav systems is - FY4 5DS.

Match report & interview by Jamie Dewsbury