Vics 5 Runcorn Town 1

COMPETITION - North West Counties Premier Division. DATE - Saturday 17th November. VENUE - Wincham Park, Northwich.

Attendance - 161.

Referee - Mark Ryder.

LINE-UPS -
Vics’ - Taberner, Camozzi, Monson, Fitzgerald, Barski, Craig (caution), Cooke (C), Whyte (Whittle 78’), Matthews, Brownhill (Pilgrim 87’), Doran (Mason 39’).

Un-used subs - Clarke.

Runcorn Town -
Reid, Turner, Heath (s/o - two cautions 90+ 3’), Shaw, James (Jennings 70’), McManus (Exell 75’), Brazel, Rodgers, Burnett (Wright 86’), Thelwell (C), Menagh.

Un-used subs’ - Jarrett, Wainwright.

GOALS - Whyte 47’, Matthews 56’, 80’, Fitzgerald 67’, Pilgrim 90+ 1’.

Town - McManus 64’ (Penalty).

Unavailable for Vics’ -
John Connolly (hernia), Kieran Kenny (back).

This game opened up on an un-seasonably warm autumn afternoon.
Both sides starting slowly in the Games opening quarter.
On 24’ Vics’ keeper Taberner produced a good save low down to deny Harry Brazel’s low stinging effort from 15 yards.
Next attack from Vics’ on 27’ Town keeper’ Reid denied Harvey Whyte’s 20 yarder, a flying save; tipping the ball over the crossbar.
Runcorn ought to have taken the lead, on the half-hour; flier Jamie Menagh with an impudent chip that was pushed on to the bar by Vics’ glove-man Taberner, a fine save.
Vics’ Hitman Rob Doran went off on 39 minutes with a bad back; replaced by Darrhyl Mason who made his mark on the game soon after his introduction, with Runcorn edging the first 40 minutes slightly with Harry Brazel prominent to all the visitors’ good work going forward.

HALF-TIME - Vics’ 0-0 Runcorn Town.

Vics took the lead within three minutes of the resumption through Harvey Whyte, Joel Brownhill’s pin-point corner being clinically stabbed in at the near post into the roof of the net.
Vics’ front-man Brian Matthews rapped a rising shot into the roof of the net from Daryl Masons’ superb flick on at the left after a cross expertly swung in by Kirt Monson for 2-0 and now the Trickies were cock-a-hoop and completely in control.
Two minutes later the game should’ve been put to bed for three-nil; on 58’ Brian Matthews shanked a shot over the bar left-footed when played in clean through after a slick trading of passes with game-star Joel Brownhill, And that miss was punished in full when Town’ midfielder’ Paul McManus reduced the arreears; duly dispatching a penalty into the corner of the net on 64’ after the referee awarded the free-hit for Barski’s shove on a diving Simon Thelwell who was attempting to head Jamie Menagh’s deep cross.
Vics were undeterred though; and restored the two-goal caution just three minutes later on 67’ when another Joel Brownhill corner caused consternation in the Town defence and centre-back Andy Fitzgerald’s pulverising header flew into the roof of the net from around 7 yards out.
Vics’ were now well on top again, Daryhll Mason broke clear on the left, leaving Liam Turner for dead and he Advanced on the keeper’ who saved his slide-rule shot with his legs on 73’.
Runcorn mustered a response of sorts; ex-Telford United schemer Carl Rodgers was denied by Vics’ keeper Taberner who saved his deft header from Jamie Menagh’ centre at the second attempt on 79’.
Just a Minute later though Vics’ extended the lead to 3 goals, and 4-1 on the afternoon; when Vics’ Brian Matthews volleyed in at the far post from 10 yards out - a great cross from the right by Harvey Whyte, with a rampaging Joe Camozzi prominent in the build-up feeding Whyte on the touchline to set up a Lightning raid; a fantastic team goal.
In a frantic final five minutes Vics’ made it a nap-hand and scored their fifth goal of the afternoon; a downward header into the corner of the net from close-in by substitute Lewis Pilgrim following another Joel Brownhill assist from the right. Deep into stoppage time, Town’ full back Joe Heath was given his marching orders for a second yellow card following a crude challenge on Vics’ full-back Kirt Monson. But there was still time for more action as the half-dozen was nearly achieved by the men in Green and White on 90 + 4’ when Brian Matthews’ Penalty was saved excellently low down by Reid after a foul on Joe Camozzi as he drove into the box, denying Matthews a well-deserved hat-trick.

Vics’ Mom - Joel Brownhill. Just about tipped the balance on an afternoon where there were many top performers in green and white. All-action, industrious, worked both channels to the hilt and three top-notch assists.

Vics’ boss Steve Wilkes’ post-match verdict -

"Another great team performance from everyone. I said at half-time one goal would win it, how wrong was I. We’ve been threatening these score-lines the past few weeks to really put someone to the sword and we did just that in the second half.
Having said that my keeper Danny Taberner made at least 2 outstanding saves at crucial times. It’s good to see people like Harvey Whyte starting to show his qualities and he’s done that the past two games. We’re in a good place at the moment and we have to keep it going as this was only our second league game in our last eight fixtures.
We must take this performance into Wednesday nights tough home league Vs game against Litherland Remyca."

Match report & interview by Jamie Dewsbury.

Up next for Vics’ is a HOME LEAGUE game Vs Litherland REMYCA on Weds 21 November with kick-off at 19:45pm