HANLEY TOWN 2 NORTHWICH VICS 2

COMPETITION -North West Counties Premier Division.
DATE - Saturday 4th January 2020
VENUE - Potteries Park, Stoke-on-Trent

LINE-UP Vics’ -
Hale, Forbes, Clarke P, Barski, Camozzi ( Henderson 82'), Peters (Dorney 45'), Clarke, Pollard (Powell), Winder , Kilifin , Burns
Un-used subs’ - ,Kenny, Henry

Bookings :

GOALS : Hanley T : Barski OG 16', Cope Pen 76'
Northwich Vics : Burns 42', Henderson 90'

Vics started their first match of 2020 brightly, and Hanley keeper, Aaron Woolrich was forced into a great save low to the left after just 3 minutes, to deny Tom Kilifin's flicked shot after Aaron Burns had scuffed his shot across goal into his path. Two minutes later, Burns got his head to a Ryan Winder curled cross before the keeper but the ball went wide. However it was Hanley who took the lead after 16 minutes in unfortunate circumstances as miscommunication between Hale and Barski led to the latter's headed back pass rolling into the net ! This unsettled the Vics and the game became scrappy. After 26 minutes, James Melhado got down the left for Hanley, and cut the ball into Neil Cope who was 15 yards out, but his shot was brilliantly blocked by Philip Clarke for a corner which was dealt comfortably with by Vics. Vics got back into the game after 42 minutes , when a cross in was only partially cleared to Matty Clarke who deftly headed the ball back into the danger area to Kilifin who headed down across the area for Aaron Burns to fire home.

HALF-TIME : Hanley Town 1 Northwich Vics 1

Hanley were again indebted to their keeper Woolrich after 53 minutes, when he dived full length to tip a glancing header from Kev Pollard round the post , from a Ryan Winder floated free-lick. Vics were controlling the game now and having most of the ball . After 55 minutes, Brandon Barski got in down the left, and whipped a great cross in but Kilifin's header was straight at Woolrich. . Just 4 minutes later, a Vics' corner was only cleared to the feet of debutant Jamie Forbes but his first time shot was well over the bar. Good chance though. After 62 minutes, a quick break from Vics, and Jack Dorney fired a shot in from 22 yards which is well saved by the keeper. Three minutes later, another top save by Woolrich, as a corner was only cleared to Matty Clarke just outside the area, whose powerful strike was destined for the top of the net before Woolrich managed to brilliantly tipped it over. Hanley had a rare chance in the 73rd minute, as a Melhado cross was cleared out to Sanders who laid the ball into Mellor 12 yards out but he skied his shot when he should have done better. However 3 minutes later, a long ball by Hanley down the right , Tim Sanders reached it first, but was heading nowhere when he was needlessly pushed in the back. Penalty awarded. This was cooly fired into the bottom right corner by Neil Cope . The game again became scrappy, and Vics looked to be running out of time . but in the last minute of normal time, a Vics' free kick was lumped into the box, cleared out by Hanley where vics recycled the ball back into Aaron Burns in the area, where he controlled the ball well, turned and fired a shot which was heading in but Saul Henderson made sure at the far post to claim the goal ! Only what Vics deserved !

FULL-TIME - Hanley Town 2 Northwich Vics 2

A better display by Vics, just disappointing to gift Hanley 2 goals