LINE-UP Vics’ -
Mendes, Hurst, Lawson, Davis, Sutton, Atkinson ( Crane 77’), Clark, Potter (Cooke 58’), Abreu (Kandeke 80’),Lloyd (Gill 72’), Leitch-Smith (Djabi 28’)

Goals: Northwich Vics : Davis 8’, Abreu 51’

VICS GO TOP OF TABLE : Vics continued where they left off last Monday against Abbey Hulton with another excellent and dominant performance away at Dudley Town who were unbeaten in the league this season before today.

Vics survived an early penalty appeal from Dudley for a handball in the Vics’ area after just three minutes and responded by going ahead just 4 minutes later, A free-kick was initially cleared but played back in by Will Lloyd for Harry Davis to turn and fire a shot past Carter in the Dudley net. Just the start Vics wanted !
Dudley’s first chance of note came in the 14th minute as a Matt Funge cross forced Vics to concede a corner which was played to the edge of the area and a curling effort went inches wide. That was about as good as it got for Dudley in the first half, as Vics pressed high and dominated the ball playing some delightful football in the process. Atkinson was looking bright on the right hand side, and a fantastic move involving himself and Will Lloyd ended with Atkinson driving into the box to fire in a shot which cannoned back off a Dudley defender. Atkinson then just failed to get a head on an Abreu cross moments later whilst Lloyd did well to spin his defender to create a chance but the ball rolled out for free-kick. Vics were forced into a change upfront after half an hour as Leitch-Smith went off injured to be replaced by Mamadou Djabi. This didn’t deter the Vics and they kept pressing and had two good chances to extend their lead in first half injury time. Firstly Abreu found Atkinson through on goal, and he tried an audacious chip which went narrowly over, then Abreu’s touch just let him down as he was through on goal moments later.

HALF-TIME : Dudley Town 0 Northwich Vics 1

Dudley came out fired up for the second half and were pressuring Vics’ in the early few minutes and a Riley-Stewart header tested Vics’ keeper Mendes virtually for the first time of the match as they pushed Vics back.. However Vics responded in the best way possible with a goal of real quality. Joe Hurst steamed down the right, beat his full back, fed Djabi who slotted a low ball across the area for Jefferson Abreu to tap into the net from 3 yards out. This floored Dudley, and from then on it was virtually all Vics again, and the only criticism is that didn’t take any of the numerous chances that were created with Sean Cooke hitting the post with a great free kick being the closest. Cooke twice, Clarke and the returning Sam Gill all had shots just wide or over and Djabi forced keeper Carter into two good saves. Dudley had a couple of chances in the last 5 minutes or so but Vics were defending resolutely and Mendes made a great save to deny Dudley any hope of a come-back

FULL-TIME : Dudley Town 0 Northwich Vics 2

A performance from Vics that deservedly sees them go top of the league at this early stage. Plenty to be confident about with every player, either starting or from the bench making a contribution to the team.

NEXT GAME : Wednesday 3rd Sept Vics v Whitchurch Alport 7.45pm at the Apec Taxis Stadium, Runcorn