Abbey Hey 0 Northwich Vics 1

COMPETITION - Hallmark Security Premier League. DATE - Saturday 9th February 2019. VENUE - The Abbey Stadium

LINE-UP’S -
Vics’ -
Taberner, Camozzi, Kenny, Barski, Fleming ( L Brownhill 75'), Whyte (Craig 80'), Cooke (C) (Roddy 70'), Craig, Darr (Doran 80"), J Brownhill, Matthews
Un-used subs’ - Clarke, FitzGerald

Booked : None

GOALS -
Vics’ - J Brownhill 27'

Vics continued their climb up the table , and recorded their 5th win on the trot, with a hard fought victory over Abbey Hey. Vics started brightly . with Jordan Darr getting down the left twice in the first couple of minutes, but failing to find a decent ball into the box each time. After 10 minutes, Brian Matthews played a neat ball through to Darr but he could only win a corner from it, which came to nothing. Two minutes later, a quick clearance from Danny Taberner found Joel Brownhill free but his shot is right at the keeper. A minute later, and Vics were nearly ahead, when Whyte's pinpoint cross found Brian Matthews who volleyed it towards goal, only to be denied by a brilliant save from Abbey Hey's keeper, Ross Heywood. Abbey Hey's first real effort came after 18 minutes when Tom Murray's free kick went just over the crossbar. It was still mostly Vics however, and 21 minutes in, Matthews managed to beat 3 defenders , and drilled a shot in from the edge of the area, which went agonisingly wide of the right post. 27 minutes in, and Vics did take the lead, when after good work from Matthews and Harvey Whyte, the ball was fed to Joel Brownhill on the right hand side of the box, and his sweetly struck shot found the far corner of the net. Vics seemed to drop the pace then, and the game became more of a midfield battle with little goalmouth action for either team.

Half-time : Abbey Hey 0 Vics 1

The second half again with Vics pressing, and after 48 minutes, Brian Matthews did well to find Joel Brownhill whose shot was saved well by the keeper's legs, and Harvey Whyte following up, put the rebound over the bar. Vics then had an even better chance to go two up after 55 minutes when as Jordan Darr intercepts the ball and is in on goal, his shot strikes the bar and falls to Matthews, who has time but puts the ball over the bar from close range. From now Abbey Hey were having most of the ball, though without creating any danger for Taberner in the Vics' net and Vics took the chance to introduce the two new boys, Lewis Brownhill, and Michael Roddy into the fray. After 83 minutes, Abbey Hey floated a corner in, which Taberner did well to tip over the bar for another corner, which was only partially cleared by the Vics, and fell to Abbey Hey's Daniel Hopkins whose effort was just over the bar...was a good chance. As the game entered injury time, Vics had two great chances to make the game safe, as first Harvey Whyte was left one on one with the keeper, after a good ball by Roddy, but he slid the ball wide of the keeper, and the post. Then Joel Brownhill found himself clear on goal but his shot was straight at the keeper.

FULL-TIME : Abbey Hey 0 Vics 1

The Manager’s View

Jamie : “Another win, another three points and the momentum just keeps building, Steve. “

Steve : “It wasn’t the prettiest of performances yesterday but it’s a very important result.
We knew it would be hard coming from the heights of the F.A Vase result (1-3 win away at Histon FC) to playing away at Abbey Hey, because we know Hey are in a relegation fight.
The pitch didn’t allow any football to be played, but we did create quite a few chances and should have made the score-line more comfortable that it was.
It was good to get some minutes in the legs of the new boys Michael Roddy and Lewis Brownhill also.
Now we can have another full week off, recharge the batteries before we play City of Liverpool (A) next Saturday 16th February in the League Macron Cup quarter-final. :

Interview by Jamie Dewsbury.