COMPETITION : FA Vase First Round Qualifying
DATE - Saturday 23rd August 2025
VENUE - Sandbach Community Club, Sandbach

LINE-UP Vics’ -
Mendes, Kandeke, Harrison, Davis, Sutton, Morgan ( Crane 23’), Clark, Potter (Hurst 81’), Abreu ( Atkinson 67’),Lloyd (Mahoney 78’), Deering (Leitch-Smith 73’)

Goals: Northwich Vics : Davis 6’, Harrison 75’

Northwich Victoria progressed to the next round of the FA Vase after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Winterton Rangers today!
Vics started apace with Pete Morgan looking particularly dangerous down the right hand side in the early stages. In deed, Morgan had the first chance in the 2nd minute as he fired over from just inside the area. Vics took the lead just 4 minutes later as Vics earned a corner which was floated in by James Potter for central defender Harry Davis to head firmly into the top corner. Vics continued to press with Morgan in the thick of the action, as he firstly headed just wide, then just failed to get a final touch as he had an effort just nicked from his toes after good work. Unfortunately he injured himself in the process and Vics were forced into an early substitution as he went off for Ben Crane. Vics then had a goal disallowed as Matt Harrison rose highest at a corner and powered a header into the net but the referee had spotted something no one else had ! Vics continued to look dangerous with Harrison heading wide and Will Lloyd slammed a good chance straight at the keeper after he was cleverly put in by the hard working Sam Deering. A dominant first half for the Vics, with Winterton finding it difficult to get into the match.

HALF-TIME : Northwich Vics 1 Winterton Rangers 0

A quieter start to the second half , though Abreu had a shot blocked for a corner early on, and then he had a great chance as he was played through but the Winterton keeper was out quickly to deny him. Deering then just couldn’t get on the end of another excellent Abreu low cross as Vics continued to have the best of the match despite Winterton trying to raise their game. Vics were still failing to capitalise on their dominance as Deering dragged a shot just wide after Kandeke did well down the right. However, Vics did get the vital second goal in the 75th minute as a short corner was played back to Potter who crossed deep for Matt Harrison who planted a header into the bottom of the net to settle any Vics nerves. With the pressure taken off a bit, Vics easily played the match out though Mendes was forced into a great save in the final minute to deny Winterton a consolation goal after having virtually nothing to do for most of the match.

FULL-TIME : Northwich Vics 2 Winterton Rangers 0

A comfortable though sometimes scrappy win for the Vics to progress to the next round where they will face Maghull FC who are currently top of the NWC Division 1 North.