Saturday 24th October 2009
FA CUP 4th Qualifying Round
Vics 3 (Danks 57pen Tong 85 o.g. Riley 90 + 2)
FC United of Manchester 0

The extra class of Northwich finally told but not before FC United had provided stern and uncompromising resistance.
Vics did not help themselves in a keenly contested first half by shunning the scoring opportunities that came their way. Danks had failed to capitalise an a very early chance and Bailey had shot narrowly wide before Elam beat two men and then split the defence with a perfectly weighted pass that sent Jonny Allan free on goal but the Vics striker leant back before delivering a too weak shot that was saved. Elam had a shot deflected into the side netting while the first opening the visitors created ended with Ben Deegan aiming a far post header wide. The half ended with Sam Ashton saving an Allan 25 yard free kick and Grand heading wide from a set piece.

HALF TIME : VICS 0 FC UNITED 0

Vics continued the game on the offensive and to the relief of the home fans were able to take a 57th minute lead after Dave Chadwick had clumsily upended Lee Elam inside the box. Mark DANKS converted the spot kick to maintain his impressive FA Cup goal scoring record. To their credit “the Rebels” refused to lie down and only a superb full length save from Curtis Aspden that kept out a Phil Marsh pile driver prevented them from getting back on level terms. Newby replaced Elam and he ought to have sealed the tie but was denied by the outstretched body of Ashton who just got enough touch on the ball to divert it agonisingly wide of the post. Danks was beginning to find more and more space as the game entered its final stages and after he had a shot saved and then blasted a chance over from the edge of the box he left his marker for dead down the left to deliver a cross that Adam TONG only succeeded in helping into his own net. With their resistance finally broken FC United succumbed again to a cleverly conjured break that allowed Newby to race clear and round the keeper before squaring for fellow substitute RILEY to race in and gleefully score.

Team: 4-3-3
Aspden /
Aspin, Bailey, Grand, R. Brown /
Connor (Riley 79), Herring, D’Laryea /
Elam (Newby 72), Allan, Danks (Vaughan 89) /
Subs not used: Spencer, Kerr & Edwards
Referee: D.H. Coote
Attend: 2,615
Man of the Match: Simon Grand – led the team by example and remained solid at the back when some of his surrounding colleagues were having a bad patch.