WD&C FC v NVFC Match Report

COMPETITION - North West Counties Premier Division.

DATE - Saturday 4th August 2018.

VENUE - Brookburn Rd, Chorlton, Manchester.

Vics’ line-up - Neild (D), Camozzi (D), (caution), Barski, Kenny, Monson (D), Whittle (D) (Bickett 86’), Craig (D), Cooke (C) (D) (caution), Brownhill (D) (Connolly 37’) (D), Doran (D), McDonald (Whittington 75’).
Un-used subs’ - Rory Gorman, Anthony Shinks.

Unavailable for Vics’ - Matty Clarke (leg), Brian Matthews (ankle), Billy Webb (thigh), John Bennett (cruciate ligament) - out for 6 more months minimum.

D - Denotes debut.
C - Denotes caution.

GOALS - Vics’ - Billy Whittle 9’ Joel Brownhill 32’, Joe Camozzi 56’ Stuart McDonald 59’, Robert Doran 90+1’.

WEST - Nicky Platt 45’, Rory Breslin 54’, Saul Henderson 90+3’.

Att: 328.

This league opener began under sunny skies on a sultry afternoon and Vics’ made their intentions clear from the off, dominating possession and taking an early lead through midfielder Billy Whittle on 9’, his deft flicked header arced into the far corner on an angle from 6 yards out after a perfect centre from the right by fellow debutant Robert Doran.
West huffed and puffed but couldn’t make any inroads into a confident Vics’ outfit. Dom Craig tested the home keepers’ palms with a rising shot from distance on 23’ before the home side finally had a shot at goal, Saul Henderson’s rising shot high and wide from Matty Kay’s assist. Vics’ doubled the lead through hit-man Joel Brownhill on 32’, racing onto Brandon Barski’s slide-rule ball, he sent a right-foot drive towards the far corner from 10 yards - the keeper parried but he made no mistake on the rebound; finishing with aplomb into the net with the same predatory right foot. Vics’ were largely untroubled heading towards the break but West were handed a life-line by experienced midfield man Nicky Platt when he arrowed in a half-volley from the edge of the box after a loose ball wasn’t cleared properly by the Vics’ rearguard.

HALF-TIME - West D & C 1 Vics’ 2.

The second half began with West buoyed by their goal just before the break. Rory Breslin stabbed home at short range from Stachini’s corner on 54’ to level matters, the Vics’ defence static. Just as Vics’ were wobbling they re-gained the lead just two minutes later through an un-likely source; a lightning quick raid down the right ended with Joe Camozzi firing a right-foot daisy-cutter shot from twenty yards through a crowd of bodies into the far bottom corner of the net.
Another two minutes later and the Vics’ re-established their two-goal lead when Stu McDonald tapped right-footed into an empty net 8 yards out from Joe Camozzi’s centre from the right; the home keeper’ inexplicably let the ball through his hands on it’s way to McDonald.
John Connolly was now pulling some strings at the heart of the midfield, one delightful pass split the West defence’ wide open and sent McDonald clear on the right around 10 yards out but his shot lacked direction, if not power and the home keeper’ made a good save. Connolly then played in sub’ Joe Whittington into a similar position that McDonald had but the result was the same; only this time the home keeper’ had to parry his shot out to safety. Rob Doran was causing no end of problems with his tireless running and inter-changing with his fellow forwards into the channels. He got a deserved goal as the game ticked into injury time, sending a right-foot cross shot into the far corner of the net from 8 yards after a peach of a through-ball by the imperious John Connolly had picked him out perfectly. West got a third with virtually the last kick of the game - Cooper set up ex-Vics’ trialist Saul Henderson who slotted home from close-in after Vics’ keeper Ryan Neild saved his initial attempt.

Vics’ MOM - Rob Doran. An excellent performance by the tall hit-man. Good Work-rate, link-up play and two assists as well as a clinical finish which put the seal on a great individual and team performance by the Trickies’.

Vics’ boss Steve Wilkes’ verdict on the five-star victory -

Im really pleased with getting off the mark today with 3pts. West Didsbury is always a difficult place to go anytime of the year. I thought some of our attacking play was very good at times, and if I’m being honest, if we’d have made better choices in the final third we’d have scored more than the 5 we got. Disappointingly Joel Brownhill’s picked up an injury that will probably keep him out for a couple of weeks. I’m disappointed and annoyed at how we defended as a team, conceding two really sloppy goals in the second half. That’s something that we’ll be working on. I’m pleased all three forwards got off the mark today, it bodes well moving forward and the shackles are off for them straight away. A special mention needs to go to the fans today, who were immense. They came out in numbers and the players really appreciated all the singing and noise they made.

Up next for Vics’ is a HOME league match Vs City Of Liverpool FC on Wednesday 8th August - at Witton Albion FC. Kick-off is at 19:45.

Report & interview by Jamie Dewsbury.