Peter Grimes reports on VICS win at Gainsborough: GAINSBOROUGH 1 v 2 VICS An entertaining game that ebbed and flowed throughout. After a quiet start it all burst into life on 12 minutes when Vics went ahead. Mayman centred from the right and Williams got in at the near post to deflect the centre and pull off the save of the night from Holmshaw who reacted like lightning to fingertip it inches wide. That save deserved a better ending but the subsequent corner was only half cleared and the ball was played quickly back in to Byrne in the right side of the box and he steadied things and calmly slid it past Holmshaw just inside the far post. However, Gainsborough were level in 90seconds when a through ball found their man of the match, centre forward Smith who shot easily past Rogers from 8 yards. 5 minutes later they went in front when a free kick was fired through a crowded box and Handyside headed off the line. The home team edged it for the next 15 minutes; Graves pulled an excellent save out of Rogers who pushed his shot narrowly wide of the post. Towards the break it was Vics who regained the initiative and in the last 2 minutes we had 2 corners and Brayson saw his free kick finger tipped over. The first 20 minutes of the second half was easily Vics best spell with quick incisive passing taking Gainsborough apart at the back. Brayson went clear on 50 minutes, he drew the defender and tried to roll it across the 6-yard box to the unmarked Williams but fluffed the pass. Soon after Elliott had a powerful long-range shot saved with some difficulty. Ironically, in the middle of this dominant spell Gainsborough had their easiest chance. Graves crossed from the right and Smith was presented with the easiest of headers but placed it gently into Rogers hands. It proved a costly miss as 2 minutes later a lovely passing move ended with Brayson slipping the ball back to Williams and he coolly placed it past he keeper from 15 yards. Brayson then did the same for Byrne whose shot grazed the post and then beat the keeper himself but saw his shot kicked off the line. It looked like a cricket score could be looming at this point! Sadly, as in several other games this season we did not kill them off and Gainsborough gradually played themselves back into it. Mallon shot into the side netting and Smith beat both Rogers and a defender but saw his shot towards the unguarded net blocked for a corner. 3 corners and another great diving save from Rogers saw Vics hold on and as Gainsborough ran out of steam in the last 5 minutes we could have had 2 more. Brayson blazed over the bar when clear with only Holmshaw to beat and in injury time we broke quickly down the right with 3 forwards on to 1 defender but the final pass from Battersby went straight to that defender. Given other results this was a massive win for Vics. We saw all their strengths and weaknesses during the game. Great passing and movement with good chances created on the one had, the inability to finish a team off and vulnerability to crosses on the other. It was a game Gainsborough never looked good enough to win, but they retained a real threat of equalizing right to the end.