Tuesday 21st July 2009
Friendly
Vics 1 (Burns 27)
Altrincham 1 (Senior 6)

Andy Preece had laid his stall out pre-match for a positive result against arch rivals Altrincham. And his players did not let him down by more than matching their opponents.
They did not exactly get the start they had planned when they fell behind just 6 minutes into the game. A careless Nat Kerr clearance was returned with interest to allow Chris SENIOR a free shot at goal which he executed clinically by slotting a low drive inside the post. Aaron Burns replied with a shot on the turn that flew a yard wide and then Mark Danks shot narrowly wide of the angle. Kerr limped from play to be replaced by Jon Newby with Luke Horrocks dropping back to left back and Burns moving out wide on the left. The switch had an immediate and positive effect. Burns ran 20 yards in possession before forcing Russell Saunders into a save at the foot of his post and then Mike Connor similarly drove forward before his powerful shot cleared the bar by inches. Burns had a rasping free kick turned over the bar as the Vics pressure intensified. And when BURNS stepped up to deliver another 30 yard free kick this time his thunderbolt smacked into the roof of the net leaving the keeper rooted to the spot. Vics ended the half on top although needed two timely interventions from Mike Aspin, making a welcome return to the club, to nip breaks from the visitors in the bud.

HALF TIME: VICS 1 ALTRINCHAM 1

Northwich began the second half with Clancy between the posts in place of Coates and Kane Hanley replacing Danks up front. Vics looked uncomfortable from a couple of Alty set pieces and then Wayne Riley went close with a volley and Connor headed a Horrocks cross wide. The pace of the game continued to be lively and Newby ought to have scored when left on goal after two defenders had collided going for the same ball but he shot aimlessly wide. At the other end Clancy could only parry a Dale Johnson shot that was eventually scrambled clear. Probably the best move of the game involved a superb cross field pass from Riley to Horrocks who delivered the perfect cross only for Connor to head over from 6 yards. Matt Doughty narrowly cleared the Vics bar with a 35 yard effort. Altrincham squandered their best chance of the game late on when substitute Ben Muirhead was set clear on goal and he drew the keeper before dragging his shot wide of the goal. Fellow substitute Paul McManus was shown an instant red for a robust challenge on Horrocks, a very harsh decision by an unnecessarily fussy referee. Vics substitute Ross Farran almost snatched a very late winner but Saunders produced a superb save to keep out a shot that he must have seen late as it flew through a crowd of players.

Team: 4-4-2
Coates (Clancy h/t) /
Aspin, Bailey, Grand (Meadowcroft 83), Kerr (Newby 14) /
Riley, Connor (Winter 83), Herring (Parkinson 63), Horrocks /
Danks (Hanley h/t), Burns (Farran 83) /
Subs not used: Elam & Cadwallader
Ref: M. Bristow
Attend: 295

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