On a blustery Tuesday night at the Apex Stadium, the wind was almost as influential as the players as Vics and Lye Town played out an entertaining, if ultimately frustrating, 2–2 draw.
Lye Town showed early intent, fashioning a chance inside two minutes, but the opening exchanges were scrappy rather than slick, with the ball spending more time in the air than on the turf. Despite Lye having the better of the early possession, it was Vics who struck first. Five minutes in, a swift counterattack saw Jefferson get the better of his defender and rifle a superb left-footed finish home to make it 1–0.
That goal settled the home side. Vics began to find their rhythm, with Atkinson and Jefferson particularly lively as the midfield started to assert control. Lye enjoyed spells of possession but struggled to turn it into anything meaningful, while Matty Clarke briefly threatened to clear the stadium altogether with an ambitious effort on 15 minutes.
The match briefly paused on 18 minutes when Lye’s number three pulled up with a hamstring injury, a sour note in an otherwise competitive first half. Shortly after, Lye punished a lapse in concentration from a quick throw-in, catching Vics outnumbered at the back. A precise pass found Lye’s number 11, who finished clinically inside the post to level the scores at 1–1.
Parity didn’t last long. From a free kick just inside their own half, Vics delivered into the box, and although the initial danger was cleared, Atkinson reacted quickest to strike confidently into the bottom-left corner, restoring the hosts’ lead almost immediately.
Lye suffered further disruption as their physio was called back into action around the half-hour mark. Vics, now back in front, looked assured at the back, passing confidently despite the conditions. Lloyd continued to dominate midfield, while Vics found joy down both wings.
The wind caused ongoing issues for the Lye goalkeeper, who kicked straight out of play on three occasions in the opening 35 minutes. Chances continued to fall Vics’ way, though Lye threatened from a free kick on the edge of the area that drifted narrowly wide.
Jefferson nearly doubled his tally before the break, his deflected effort forcing a fingertip save that stirred the home crowd. While Lye’s defence remained organised, their attacking threat came exclusively from quick counterattacks.
Lye finished the half with more of the ball but little to show for it, and Vics’ defence stood firm to preserve a deserved 2–1 lead at the interval.
The second half began scrappily, with neither side able to settle as the wind intensified. Passes went astray, and the quality dipped noticeably. Then, less than ten minutes after the restart, Lye struck again. Their number 10 found space, unleashed a superb long-range effort, and punished a sleeping Vics defence to make it 2–2.
That equaliser lifted Lye, who pressed aggressively and closed Vics down quickly. The hosts struggled to regain composure, prompting changes as Igoe was replaced by Mama in search of attacking spark.
Lye continued to look the sharper side, winning second balls and controlling midfield. Vics made a further change, bringing on Sean Cooke for Matty Clarke, but the momentum remained with the visitors. Despite their dominance, Lye failed to truly test the Vics goalkeeper, lacking the final touch.
Tensions rose in the final ten minutes, with Harry Davis booked during a scrappy spell. Fouls crept into the game from both sides as neither appeared content with a point, and a late Vics chance was dramatically cleared off the line, summing up a frustrating second-half performance. To compound matters, Jefferson went down injured in the closing moments.
At full time, Lye Town’s small travelling support celebrated a hard-earned 2–2 draw, while Vics fans left disappointed — a result that ultimately did little to benefit either side after a match defined by a strong first half and a forgettable second.

NEXT GAME:

Saturday 24th January 2026 : Stourport Swifts v Vics 3.00pm