If this game was the standard for what is to follow then watching Vics for the remainder of the campaign ought to require a public health warning. End to end action and a glut of scoring opportunities and goals kept fans enthralled to the end and until Vics grabbed a late equaliser to ensure the result was just about the fairest one.

Other than a snapshot from Chris Price which forced Rogers to save from beneath the bar and a firmly struck 20 yard shot from Stuart Elliott which rapped the post a mundane opening 25 minutes had given little hint of what was to follow. But a dubious penalty decision, Kieran Charnock was harshly judged to have pushed Lee Mulvaney to the ground, gave Neil PRINCE the opportunity to score a debut goal for his new club from the spot and open the flood gates for more than an hour's rivetting entertainment. Ninety seconds later and Price should have added a second but from a neat Mulvaney flick Rogers managed to get a touch and divert his shot around the post. Rogers missed his punch from the Turley corner and Price should have done better than blaize the chance over the bar. Vics were clearly rattled and looking vulnerable and when Mulvaney got down the left to pull the ball back invitingly PRINCE was on hand to pivot and lash an unstoppable shot into the top corner. Prince almost completed a hat trick within 10 minutes but his deflected free kick just cleared the bar with Rogers struggling to make his ground. Vics were therefore grateful to grab a toehold back into the game when Buxton came from his goal area to chase down a long through ball and only succeeded in directing an attempted headed clearance at the feet of ALLAN who lobbed the return over the keeper and into an unguarded net. Two minutes later and Allan could have equalised when put clear by Jon McCarthy but his shot hit the legs of the advancing Buxton and diverted for a corner. From the kick Allan had a bicycle kick strike the keeper on the line. With Vics now in the ascendency the half ended with another opportunity for Allan who was again set clear by a McCarthy through ball but his low cross from a very acute angle was bundled behind for a corner.

The action continued unabated after the break and, after Haran had fouled Byrne, Elliott floated a free kick into the heart of the penalty box where the ubiquitous ALLAN rose above everyone to score with a well placed header. Brayson headed a Byrne corner into the side netting before Hockenhull and Mulvaney, who had been the first forward to have given Charnock a difficult time for many a game, combined to win a corner from which Mulvaney had a shot beat off the goal line by Rogers. Battersby then broke for Vics to set up Brayson but although he cut inside neatly his final shot lacked power. Back up to the other end and Prince had a shot deflected narrowly wide and Price had a 25 yard shot turned around his post by Rogers before Celtic netted a third. A poor cross from Byrne led to a swift Celtic break which left Lee ELLINGTON with a clear run at goal and he calmly drew Rogers before beating the Vics keeper with a well struck finish into the far corner. Burr introduced Mayman and then Rocca for Byrne and Battersby respectively and with 2 minutes remaining a mistake by former Vics full back Mark Barnard appeared to have set Allan up to equalise but again Buxton advanced to parry the shot. With Vics pressing Turley crossed for Prince to volley inches wide leaving Vics to press forward again as the game entered its final minute of ordinary time. Chapman again moved forward with purpose and delivered a perfectly weighted left wing cross which was met by Charnock and although his header was blocked on the line CARR was on hand to force the ball home. This remarkable game almost produced one more final twist when Elliott reached a Brayson cross at the foot of the far post but was then unable to get sufficient power in his final header to get the ball beyond Buxton.

Team: 4-41
Rogers, McCarthy, Payne, Charnock, Chapman, Battersby (Rocca 75), Carr, Elliott, Byrne (Mayman 70), Allan, Brayson
Subs not used: Connett, Garner & Gaghan

Referee: D. Handley (Wigan)
Booking: Haran (Stalybridge)
Attend: 533
Man of the Match: Jonny Allan