DISTANT VICS NEWSLETTER
PART OF NORTHWICH VICTORIA SUPPORTERS TRUST
NUMBER 533 22nd APRIL 2010
THE LAST NEWLETTER
I have been involved in writing match reports and supporting the delivery of the DV Newsletter since its conception.
I hope that you have enjoyed, in some small part, reading my input anywhere near as much as I have enjoyed delivering the provision.
However I feel that it is time for me to step down and hopefully pass on the tasks to younger volunteer(s).
I shall take this opportunity to thank a whole host of people that includes a number of managers, players and fans that have enabled me to carry on through the years. More recently, I am indebted for the input and support given by Andrew Simpson from the Northwich Guardian that has helped promote and develop a significant working relationship between, fans, the football club and the press.
I shall continue to support the Vics and will always be pleased to meet up and have a natter with you both at home and away games.
Yours in sport
Pete Wilson
As many of you are aware I am no longer as involved with the club as I used to be. Recently I have had to rely heavily on Pete Wilson for contact with the club in order to keep the newsletter going..
As Pete feels he can no longer carry on it seems a good time for me to withdraw as well rather than just letting it become unreliable and die. A clean break is better for everyone and perhaps someone else will step up in time and resurrect it.
I would echo Pete’s sentiments about the enjoyment and satisfaction of being involved for its full term – just over 10 years even if it has been soured by the events of recent years.
I wish everyone well and hope the club can regain its dignity and rightful place in football in the near future.
Pete Grimes
CLUB NEWS
The season is finally wrapped up (on the pitch) after tonight’s Mid Cheshire Senior Cup Final and Saturday’s trip to Harrogate.
It’s been a difficult season but with the players providing a free bus to Saturday’s game and the Player of the Year ‘do’ being on at the ground when they return perhaps the end, at least, can be enjoyable!
THE GUARDIAN - Andrew Simpson
ARTICLE No 1
ANDY Preece admitted he was relieved after Vics ended a nine-matches run without a win; their worst run of form in his tenure as manager.
Wayne Riley’s goal two minutes from time – his third in seven days – secured a league double against Gloucester City.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said the Northwich manager.
“We’ve been through a crazy period from being on real highs on our way to beating the top teams to terrible lows in the defeats against Workington and Alfreton.
“I can’t tell you how hard it was to take those two outcomes in particular; you wonder what you have done wrong.
“It felt like we might be heading into a run of five or six defeats to finish the season – whereas we won six on the spin last year – even though we don’t deserve to.”
The hosts created more – and better – chances in an open first half when Mark Danks, Jonny Allan and Riley all went close.
Lee Smith forced Curtis Aspden – Vics’ supporters’ Player of the Month for March – to save smartly at the other end.
A drab second period was punctured by Riley’s emphatic winner after Harry Winter had nodded down substitute Mike Aspin’s cross.
“I thought the substitutes – both Jon Newby and Mike Aspin – came on to the field and made a difference,” said Preece.
“That didn’t happen [at Alfreton] last week.
“I thought Newbs in particular terrorised their full back and he was unlucky not to come off with a goal of his own at the end.
“Plus of course Asp provided the cross for the goal.”
It was too late for Dave Mayhew’s men, who now swap places with their conquerors in the Blue Square North table, to muster a response.
The clearest opening of the second period came on 66 minutes when defender Tom Hamblin saw his shot smothered following Smith’s corner.
“I don’t think we ever looked like losing,” added Prreece.
“It’s just nice to get a win on the board and the lads went about their task in a pleasing way by showing character today.
“A win will lift their spirits going into the final week of the season; we’ll keep going now.
“We’ve tried to keep picking up the lads even though we don’t have too much to play for and that’s not been easy, but we still want to finish in the top half [of the table] if we can.“ Vics’ win, their first since March 6, moves them up to places to 13th position in the standings.
Blyth Spartans, who lost by the odd goal in five against title hopefuls Fleetwood, are three points better off with two matches left.
ARTICLE No 2
ANDY Preece believes his team’s attacking play should have led to half a dozen goals against Stalybridge Celtic last night.
Vics ran out 2-1 winners, but created a host of chances.
“We could have had five or six goals because we opened them up for fun,” he said afterwards.
“Again we were just missing that little bit of quality in the final third of the pitch that I’ve talked about so often this season, be it a decision, a finish or a cross.
“But I don’t think they could have complained too much had scored a couple more goals.”
It was a night of contrasts for Vics’ front players as first Jon Newby and then Brian Dutton scored expertly-taken goals, but top scorer Mark Danks missed out on a treble.
Preece told the Guardian that the former AFC Telford United front man had still made a valuable contribution though.
He said: “Mark Danks had a really good game but ended up without a goal.
“There’s been other occasions when he’s scored two or three but not been as involved in our approach play as he was during the second half.
“It was good to see him making good decisions in the last third.
“On the other hand it’s been a frustrating season for Jon [Newby].
scored a hat-trick.
“He took his goal well though and that’s what he is capable of.”
There was a worry for the home team when Connor Jennings halved Celts’ deficit within seconds of Dutton heading in Vics’ second goal.
Joe O’Neill missed a one-on-one with Curtis Aspden in the closing stages too.
“We made things hard for ourselves again,” added Preece.
“It was criminal to let them score so soon after we had gone 2-0 up. Fortunately we went on from there and continued to create opportunities.
“It’s nice to be finishing the season in form after winning the past two games.
“We want to finish on 51 points by beating Harrogate on Saturday and then look at where the ten we lost might have taken us.
“I’ve said to the players all along that if we can say we would have finished in the top five then that’s a great season.”
ARTICLE No 3
NORTHWICH Victoria handed a debut to defender Tom Smyth against Stalybridge Celtic last night after the Football Conference ended a signings ban on the club.
The former Preston North End junior, released by the Championship club earlier this year, was impressive alongside Nat Kerr at the heart of the hosts’ backline.
“I thought Tom did great,” said Vics boss Andy Preece.
“We’ve had him signed on for a while but haven’t been able to play him because we’ve had the transfer embargo on us.
“He might have made a big difference had we had him available over the past six weeks or so.”
Smyth, 19, left Deepdale in February after failing to break into the first team at the Lancashire club.
He was unlucky not to mark his debut with a goal too after heading Junior Brown’s free kick against an upright in the second half of Vics’ 2-1 win.
ARTICLE No 4
THE Football Association has charged Andy Morrison for comments he allegedly made to match officials during his team’s league defeat against Gainsborough Trinity last month.
Vics’ assistant manager must respond to the game’s governing body by the end of today, Wednesday, after being accused of breaking rule E3 for improper conduct.
Reddish official Anthony Moore sent the 39-year-old from the touchline during the closing stages of Northwich’s single-goal reverse.
It is the second time this season that the former Manchester City legend has faced an FA rap after serving a two-matches touchline ban before Christmas as punishment for criticising referee Sarah Garratt for her handling of Vics’ 1-0 win at Gloucester City.
The Halesowen official sent off midfielder Jamie Vermiglio on his debut – plus Tigers’ pair Tom Webb and Robbie Mustoe – in an ill-tempered encounter.
Meanwhile the FA has told in-form Wayne Riley, dismissed during the second half of Vics’ 1-1 draw at Stalybridge Celtic last week, that he will serve a one-match ban at the beginning of next season.
Andy Preece’s men close their Blue Square North campaign at already-relegated Harrogate Town this Saturday.
CONFERENCE RAMBLINGS
Fleetwood Town chairman Andy Pilley and chief executive Steve Curwood attended the Blue Square North club’s appeal hearing on Wednesday over the Football Conference expunging Farsley Celtic’s league record.
The club officials attended the Football Association appeal board at Wembley Stadium alongside their legal team.
Due to the large amount of evidence the FA panel feels it is prudent to spend time considering the facts before making a decision. It is hopeful a decision will be reached by Friday.
Steve King’s Farnborough were handed the Zamaretto League Premier Division championship on Sunday when Nuneaton Town – the only side capable of overhauling them – lost 1-0 at Liberty Way to play-off chasers Chippenham Town. They are promoted to Conference South
Wales are to play England at semi-professional level for the first time since the demise of the Four Nations tournament.
The old enemies will clash at Newtown's Latham Park in a friendly warm-up ahead of the Under-23 semi pros' final International Challenge Trophy clash with Poland.
The match will be played on Tuesday, September 14th with a 7.30pm kick-off.
UPDATE ON THE BEER FESTIVAL
The 2010 beer Festival is now a sell out, with no tickets left other than if someone wants to sponsor a barrel and then they get two tickets. The cost of sponsoring a barrel is £75.00.
If anyone is interested then they can contact Andy on 07989836303 or by e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
