Vics 2 Litherland REMYCA 1

COMPETITION - North West Counties Premier Division. VENUE - Wincham Park, Northwich, Cheshire. DATE - Wednesday 21st November.

Attendance - 126.

Referee - Paul Root.

LINE-UP’S - Taberner, Camozzi (Whittle 46’), Muir (D), Barski, Fitzgerald, Craig, Whyte, Cooke (C), Matthews, Brownhill, Mason (Darr 72’ (D) ).
Un-used sub - Pilgrim.

No cautions for Vics’.

Unavailable for Vics’ - Kieran Kenny (back), Kirtis Monson (away), Matty Clarke (knee), Rob Doran (back).

Litherland REMYCA - Walker, Connor (C), Shields (caution), Crist, Riley, Cato, Clemence, Scott (Myers 68’), Donnelly, Quirk, Jevons. Un-used subs’- Jason McShane, Dobson, Gregson, Murphy.

GOALS -
Vics’ - Joel Brownhill 47’, Andrew Fitzgerald 80’.

REMYCA - Warren Jevons 53’.

This League game kicked off in chilly conditions but it was the visitors REMYCA who began the hottest of the two sides and signalled their intent early on in the second minute when a quick break from deep saw Dylan Scott worry Vics’ 'keeper Taberner with a daisy-cutter shot from 10 yards when all alone; the ball just going wide of the near post by inches. Vics were sluggish and REMYCA largely dominated the proceedings; live-wire front-man Warren Jevons a constant threat with his piercing runs and he was denied the opening goal on 24’ when his jinking run saw him end it with a rasping shot from just inside the box but luckily for Vics, it took a slight deflection to go out for a corner.
Vics battled gamely despite the visitors being on top; and Darrhyl Mason had the Green and Whites’ first attempt at goal on 34’ when his rising right-foot shot went over the bar from 16 yards after Dom Craig’s industry and centre from the left.
The half’s remainder saw both teams in a battle of attrition with no real openings at either end of the pitch.

HALF-TIME - Vics’ 0-0 Litherland.

Vics opened the second half fast and broke the deadlock after two minutes; just like the previous game Vs Runcorn Tn - when hit-man Joel Brownhill rapped a rising left-foot shot high into the roof of the net from 10 yards out, REMYCA keeper’ Gerrard Walker had absolutely no chance of saving it. Vics’ Harvey Whyte had teed up Brownhill with an exquisite pass from the left following one of his trademark jinking runs.
Instead of spurring them on, Vics didn’t kick on after that huge shot in the arm and it was REMCYA who jolted into life; equalising six minutes later on 53’. The impressive Warren Jevons taking a pass from George Donnelly in his stride; from 14 yards he opened up his body as the ball came across him and struck a perfectly placed shot into the far corner of the net via the inside of his right boot.
REMYCA ought to have taken the lead on 66’ when Jack Riley was free in the box from a corner but could only direct his free header over the bar from short range.
The visitors’ general dominance continued unabated and on 75’ George Donnelly’s powerful volley from 12 yards went just over the bar from yet another mesmerising run by Jevons.
Vics’ mustered a response on 77’ when Dom Craig - who had switched to an un-familiar position at right-back due to Joe Camozzi suffering a tight hamstring; swung over a cross that debutant Jordan Darr prodded wide at the far post from around 10 yards.
Three minutes later Vics seized the lead when Joel Brownhill’s left-footed in-swinging free-kick from the far side perfectly reached the head of the leaping Andrew Fitzgerald who duly nodded home downwards into the net from 6 yards.
The drama wasn’t over though - on 87’ Vics’ glove-man Danny Taberner produced a miraculous save to deny George Donnelly what would have been a deserved equaliser; finger-tipping his goal-bound shot from 10 yards onto the inside of the post with another Vics’ debutant on the night Oliver Muir hacking the loose ball to safety. Warren Jevons; yet again the instigator of the chance with another run and assist.
The additional 3 minutes at the end were played out with relative ease by the Vics to ensure an all-important three points in the quest to enter the top 4 places in the League.

Vics’ M.O.M - Andrew Fitzgerald. Really starting to find his feet again after settling back into the team nicely.
On a difficult night for the Vics he kept a cool head defensively and for the match-winner near the end to secure his second goal in successive games and a crucial three points for the team.

Vics’ boss Steve Wilkes’ post-match verdict -

Jamie : "An in-different performance from the team tonight Steve, but a very welcome three points given the circumstances. "

Steve : "Yes Jamie - a very in-different 3 points tonight; but equally as important.
We know we didn’t play well, but credit must be given to the boys as they dug in and grounded the result out. Litherland will probably feel aggrieved they didn’t get anything from the game but apart from Tabby’s brilliant save towards the end, they didn’t really open us up.
A special mention must go out to 18 year-old Olly Muir. Olly joined on the morning of the game, hadn’t met any of the players and played out of position at left-back. Olly stuck to his task and grew into the game.
An obvious concern for myself at the moment is the amount of injuries we’re picking up.
Joe Camozzi (hamstring) is the latest to join a list that includes Kieran Kenny (back) Matty Clarke (knee) and Rob Doran (back).

Match report & interview by Jamie Dewsbury.

Up next for Vics’ is an AWAY league game Vs Charnock Richard F.C on Saturday 24 November with kick-off at 15:00.
Stadium address - Mossie Park, Charter Lane, Lancashire.
Postcode for Sat-nav systems is - PR7 5LZ.