Northwich Victoria 2 Barnoldswick Town 0

COMPETITION -North West Counties Premier Division
DATE -Wednesday 22nd January 2020
VENUE - Wincham Park, Northwich

LINE-UP Vics’ -
Hale, Henry, Clarke P, Dunn, Barski, Camozzi, Clarke M, Powell ( Robinson 91'), Kilifin ( Glass 70'), Burns ( Dorney 81'), Henderson
Un-used subs’ -

Bookings : None

GOALS : Henderson 72' Glass 90'

Patient Vics prove too strong for Barnoldswick

A quiet start to the match , with Barnoldswick having the first effort after 7 minutes when a shot was fired way over the bar. Three minutes later, Vics' debutant Ashley Dunn found himself clear down the right and tried to square the ball back across the middle but Barnoldswick just about managed to scramble the ball clear before it reached a Vics' player. Barnoldswick then earned a free kick about 30 yards out wide on their left after 13 minutes, which was drilled in and met by the run of Marc Young whose flicked header forced Mike Hale in the Vics' net into a diving save to his left . Vics were now coming into the game more now, and after 16 minutes had a penalty shout as Aaron Burns linked up well with Saul Henderson and drove between two Barnoldswick defenders and fell to the ground under the challenge. No penalty ! Four minutes later , it was Burns again as je jinked across the edge of the area, and fired a shot in just wide of the post. Vics were controlling the game now, although chances were far and few between though after 32 minutes, Henderson got in front of his man at a corner but couldn't direct his header from a tight angle. 36 minutes in, and good play by the Vics as Tom Powell knocked the ball down well for Tom Kilifin but he dragged his shot wide. The best move of the match happened after 39 minutes when Kilifin turned his man superbly and fired a cross into Henderson who controlled it well and laid the ball off to the onrushing Powell but his slotted shot was inches wide. After 41 minutes, Vics thought they had scored , under slightly bizarre circumstances as a corner was floated in under the bar and claimed by Jack Little in the Barnoldswick net who then appeared to carry the ball back into his own net, but the liner said no !

HALF-TIME : Northwich Vics 0 Barnoldswick Town 0

The second half began the same way as the first half had ended with Vics looking the better team. They had a good chance after 55 minutes when Aaron Burns broke free and managed to slot Henderson in, but his shot was deflected just wide. Two minutes later, another good chance as Burns again was clear but hesitated and delayed his shot and the Barnoldswick defence managed to get back and clear the ball to safety. Although Vics appeared to be in control, they were always susceptible to a break away from Barnoldswick and after 69 minutes a cross was whipped in and found Richard Seear unmarked in the box , and he really should have done better than putting his header well wide. A warning for Vics ! A warning that they took heed of, as after 72 minutes , Burns picked the ball up in midfield and beautifully found the run of Saul Henderson who calmly dinked the ball over the onrushing keeper to put the Vics one up. Good finish! Three minutes later, it was nearly two, as Powell escaped down the left and laid the ball to substitute Dylan Glass but his shot was straight at the keeper. A few minutes later, Vics again left Richard Seear free in the area, but again he failed to hit the target with his header. Vics finally made the game safe in the 90th minute, when Henderson headed for the corner flag to wind down time, but then cut back and played a delightful cross into the middle for Glass to skillfully guide the ball into the net .

FULL-TIME - Northwich Vics 2 Barnoldswick Town 0

Another determined controlled display by the Vics, highlighted by Saul Henderson who held the ball up well and linked up well with Aaron Burns, and fully deserved his well taken goal . Credit again for another clean sheet