BRIAN Matthews scored a hat-trick when Northwich Victoria brushed aside Cammell Laird on Saturday to progress in the FA Vase.
Their reward is to visit Prestwich Heys at the next stage.
Steve Wilkes’ side assumed control from the moment Joel Brownhill drilled in direct from a free-kick on 26 minutes.
The visitors, ranked a level below in the North West Counties League’s First Division South, held out until the seconds before half-time when Matthews forced the ball over the line after Dominic Craig’s surging run had avoided an offside trap.
Cammell Laird survived a scare early in the second-half when Brownhill’s attempt struck the crossbar after Matthews teed him up before Ryan Burke poked wide at the other end after latching onto Andrew Scarisbrick’s fine pass.
Matthews put the game out of the away team’s reach when he converted from close-range after connecting with Rob Doran’s cross before substitute John Connolly’s glancing header – his first touch after replacing Brownhill – made it 4-0.
Doran was again the architect.
And Vics completed the scoring with two minutes left when Matthews prodded in a loose ball spilled into his path by goalkeeper Thomas White after he stopped Connolly’s shot. That increases his tally for the campaign to eight.

Vics 5 - Cammell Laird 0

TEAMS :
Vics | Taberner (GK), Camozzi, Monson, Craig (Pilgrim), Kenny, Barski, Whittle, Cooke (Whyte 77), Matthews, Brownhill (Connolly 72), Doran Subs not used Fitzgerald, Clarke Goals Brownhill 26, Matthews 44, 67, 88 Connolly 74 Booked Cooke, Barski, Doran
Cammell Laird | White (GK), Rooney, Brabin, Dutton-Kelly, Byrne, James, Scarisbrick, Jewell (Davidson 83), Rothwell (MacInnes 83), Burke, Donnelly (Caleb Jones 65) Subs not used Hackett, Foster Booked James (foul)
Referee Michael Herzog

Vics’ boss Steve Wilkes’ post-match verdict on the five-star win -
" A fantastic performance from the lads today with everyone playing a part. We knew before kick-off it would be tough, with Laird’ winning six out of their last seven encounters. With us having the wind behind us in the second half, it did give us a slight advantage in being able to turn round at the break 2-0 up. Second half we played really good football, keeping the ball on the deck. We could easily have ended up winning 6 or 7 nil. Confidence is high in the team now, and it’s good that I’ve been able to give some of the lads minutes that haven’t been involved as much as others so far this season. "

Vics’ M.O.M -
Brian Matthews.
A superb hat-trick by the experienced hit-man. Three clinically taken goals and all effort & bustle as is the norm.

Thanks go to Hunters Gin for being our match sponsors once again , and to Boalloy Industries Ltd for their match ball sponsorship. We hope that they all enjoyed their day