Vics produced an excellent overall performance , complete with yet another clean sheet to overcome a very good Retford United side to progress through to the next round of the Vase.

It was nearly a dramatic start for the Vics as in the second minute, Will Bentley sent a great ball through for Ryan Atkinson to race through but Woodward in the Retford Utd net made a great save to deny him. The next moment, it was Retford on the attack and were only stopped by a desperate tackle from centre-back Frazer Cookson for which he was given a yellow card much to the disgust of Retford who thought it should have been a red, but there was cover to stop him being last man. Retford again went close in the 9th minute when Carty fizzed an effort inches wide of the post after he had made a great run and cut inside. Two minutes later, it was Carty again, this time forcing Mendes into a fantastic save. It was fairly end to end at this stage, and Rokka and then Harrison tested Woodward in the Retford net with shots whilst Carty again tested Mendes from the edge of the area. 27 minutes in, Vics had the closest effort yet as Leo Tanswell’s long range shot cannoned back from the crossbar. It was still fairly end to end though, with Lewis inches away from a Voskresenskis cross for Retford whilst Atkinson was causing havoc down the right for Vics before he was forced off with an injury just before half-time. Vics then really should have taken the lead with the last kick of the half as a free-kick found its way to Matty Clarke at the far post and he somehow managed to hit the bar from a couple of yards out.
So a goalless but entertaining first half with Vics just edging it with having the better chances .

HALF TIME : Northwich Vics 0 Retford Utd 0

Although it was Retford who had the first chance of the second half as Watt headed just wide after a quick corner was taken, it was Vics who went ahead in the 54th minute. It was great build up play as Rokka played Tanswell in who passed to Duckworth in the inside right channel who crossed low for Sean Higgins to fire past Woodward. Vics really started to control the match now, pressing forward at every opportunity. George Nugent then nearly repeated his great goal from Tuesday’s match against Stockport Georgians as he dinked past a couple of defenders but opted to pass across the face of goal instead of shoot this time and the keeper claimed it well. Half chances then fell to Rokka, Bentley and then Clarke with a long range shot from a corner as Vics looked for the second killer goal. Would Vics pay for not taking their chances as the match entered the final ten minutes or so? They nearly did when Chambers lofted the ball over Mendes as he was put through but also just over the crossbar fortunately for the Vics. Rokka then went close for Vics as he got onto the end of a Cookson header but Woodward saved his flicked shot well. Then in the 90th minute, Vics finally made the game safe as Kieran Hamm fired an unstoppable shot on the diagonal into the bottom corner giving Woodward no chance and Vics safely managed the game out.

FULL TIME : Northwich Vics 2 Retford United 0

An even first half , but once Vics scored early in the second, they then controlled the match and should have added the second well before the last minute, and yet another clean sheet recorded.

NEXT MATCHES :

TUESDAY 13th OCTOBER : Cheshire Senior Cup : Runcorn Town v Northwich Vics 7.45pm

TUESDAY 20th OCTOBER : Midland League : Northwich Vics v Winsford United 7.45pm