Northwich Victoria 1 Avro 0

COMPETITION -North West Counties Premier Division
DATE -Saturday 11th January 2020
VENUE - Wincham Park, Northwich

LINE-UP Vics’ -
Hale, Henry, Clarke P, Kenny,, Barski, Camozzi, Clarke M, Winder R ( Dorney 71'), Kilifin ( Powell), Burns ( Pollard 81'), Henderson
Un-used subs’ - Peters,

Bookings : Barski 36'

GOALS : Henderson 57'

Hard working Vics overcome physical Avro with a determined display.

The gusty wind made good football hard to come by, but most of it did come from Vics. They started fairly slowly with Avro having the advantage of the wind in the first half. In the 8th minute, a free kick was floated in by Ryan Winder and met by the head of Keiron Kenny but the Avro keeper collects easily. A minute later and Joe Camozzi does well to steal the ball from Avro down the right and gets in a great cross which just evades Tom Kilifin in the box. The play was mostly a midfield battle, and it wasn't til the 26th minute that Mike Hale in the Vics net was called into action properly when he had to get down smartly to tip a low free kick round the post. Decent Save. The wind and a whistle happy referee were making it a scrappy sort of game but hale was called into action again in the 36th minute as he narrowed the angle down well and made a good save as the Avro attacker bore down on him. As the game neared half time, Vics were growing in dominance and playing the better football. In the 42nd minute, great build up play by the Vics set up Ryan Winder with a shot, but he sent it wide. this was closely followed by Saul Henderson cleverly spinning his man, and sending a peach of a ball into Aaron Burns who couldn't control his attempted volley. On the stroke of half time, it was Aaron Burns turn to set up a chance with a clever head down to Tom Kilifin on the edge of the penalty area, but he sliced his shot wide.
HALF-TIME : Northwich Vics 0 Avro 0

The second half began the same way as the first half had ended with Vics looking the better team, and not allowing Avro to really get into the match. But it wasn't til the 57th minute that Vics took the lead, when Kilifin did well to win the ball and feed it through to Saul Henderson who did well to run along the top of the penalty box before unleashing a fierce drive into the bottom corner of the net. Cracker ! Vics grew in confidence and were determined to hold onto the lead, working hard to deny Avro any chances. In the 71st minute, the hard working Matty Clarke picked up the ball in midfield and drove towards the box before firing a shot which flew over the bar. In the 75th minute, great interplay between Kilifin and Henderson set up Henderson to crash a shot into the near post which the Avro keeper did very well to palm away . However Avro nearly snatched an unlikely equaliser when Hale was forced into a fine save diving low to his right to tip a driven shot round the post for a corner. In the 86th minute, a rapid counter by Vics led to two substitutes , Dorney and Powell , combining well to set Powell through on goal, but he pulled his shot wide of goal.

FULL-TIME - Northwich Vics 1 Avro 0

Hard working, determined and at times classy display by the Vics leading to a well deserved victory. A display typified by matty Clarke in midfield and Saul Henderson upfront who deserved his excellent goal. Another clean sheet, the first in the League for months and credit to the defence and Mike Hale in goal who was named Vics' man of the match for crucial saves when required.