Monday 28th August 2006
Vics 0 v 3 Grays Athletic

The harsh reality of life in the highest echelon of semi professional football was again brought home to everyone at the club as the today's best efforts fell far short of achieving a positive result.

The management reshuffled the team, Connett replacing Senior in goal and Ryan Brown making his senior debut at left back while Payne took up the right back role with Battersby moving into midfield. And, despite kicking into a strong wind, the home side certainly enjoyed the better of the early exchanges. Yet a recurring vulnerability at the back remained a concern and when the pacy Aaron McLean broke it was only a save at the foot of the post from Connett that prevented him from opening the scoring.

Nevertheless Vics plugged away and Bayes was fortunate to keep a clean sheet when he failed to deal with a long ball into the box and Allan followed up only to see his shot deflected wide of the goal. Battersby did well down the right and once again the Athletic defence looked stretched as Stuart headed the cross just beyond his own goal. The difference in quality from last season's campaign was again all too emphatically highlighted when, despite Vics temporarily being in the ascendancy, Grays broke with purpose and Oli cleverly released McLEAN down the right for him to cut inside and execute a precise finish.

From this point Vics were left to chase the game against quality opponents and could have gone two behind before the break had McLean been able to find the goal from an acute angle after having left his markers in his wake.

Barwick started the second half in place of, the arguably unfortunate, Battersby and almost got onto the score sheet with a hooked shot that flew marginally wide. With the elements in their favour, hopes of a Northwich comeback remained until all too familiar defensive frailties allowed Grays to settle the issue. A rudimentary cross into the box from Oli caused undue concern in the heart of the Vics defence and a weak headed clearance by Griffiths gave STUART the opportunity of driving a shot into the net from the edge of the box.

Despite a feeling that the game was won, Vics persevered and Allan forced a save from Bayes. Brayson produced a measured cross that was partially cleared to Elliott and his half volley was superbly saved by Bayes. Allan then forged forward to set up Brayson but again Bayes completed a save that served to underline, arguably, that Bayes had been the busier of the two keepers. Yet the quality of Grays counter attacks  continued to concern Vics and only a superb save from Connett prevented Kightly from converting a Williamson cross.