LINE-UP Vics’ -
Mendes, Hurst (Kandeke 71’), Harrison, Lawson, Sutton, Deering (Atkinson 78’), Tanswell, Lloyd, Crane (Abreu 68’) Cooke (Clarke 45’), Hamm (Potter 87’)

Goals : Northwich Vics : Hamm 2’, 41’, Crane 43’, Harrison 85’, Atkinson 90+3’
: Stalybridge C : Jerome 79’

Vics made 7 changes to the team from Saturday’s win against Campion in the FA Vase for this Cheshire Senior Cup match against higher ranked Stalybridge Celtic.
They got off to the best possible start as Will Lloyd and Kieran Hamm teamed up to set Ben Crane down the wing and his perfect cross found Hamm at the back post who headed home after just 2 minutes.
Stalybridge nearly responded quickly as they went in search of an equaliser. First Max Leonard and then Dylan Scott forced Andre Mendes into good saves. It was Ruben Jerome’s turn in the 10th minute to be denied by Mendes after he cut back inside and struck a low shot which the keeper pushed wide. Stalybridge continued to press Vics but they were slowly gaining the midfield advantage and moving the ball about well. Sam Deering jinked back inside and fired just over from the edge of the box after 35 minutes. 6 minutes later, Tanswell fed Sam Deering whose piledriver of a shot cannoned against the post and fell for Hamm who had the simplest of tasks to stroke the ball into an empty net from 8 yards out. Two minutes later, Vics were 3 up after another lovely move left Ben Crane one on one with the keeper and he easily slid the ball into the back of the net. It was nearly 4 right on half time as Sean Cooke’s curling shot was heading for the bottom corner before being deflected wide.

HALF-TIME : Northwich Vics 3 Stalybridge Celtic 0

The first 20 minutes of the second half were a quieter affair with Vics generally controlling the match with little goalmouth action at either end. However Stalybridge then stepped up the pace and started pressing Vics back forcing Vics to play on the break with Hamm forcing Harte in the Stalybridge net into a good save after 71 minutes. Pressure was mounting on Vics though and Andre Mendes pulled off a top class save to deny Smales-Braithwaite with a great reaction save. However just a minute later, there was nothing he could do as Ruben Jerome curled a shot past him to give Stalybridge a faint hope. That hope nearly flickered more brightly 4 minutes later but Max Leonard’s shot cannoned back from the crossbar as Stalybridge pushed for a second. However Vics settled any nerves in the 85th minute as Tanswell drilled a corner in for Matt Harrison to power a header across goal into the net for Vics fourth goal. Then in the final minute came a goal of sheer quality as Harrison fed Jefferson Abreu who absolutely destroyed his full back and drove to the the byline to pull the ball across goal for Ryan Atkinson to side foot the ball home to cap an excellent performance by the Vics.

FULL-TIME : Northwich Vics 5 Stalybridge Celtic 1

Vics will now play Nantwich Town in the next round