Sunday 25th March 2007

Vics 0 v 4 Cambridge United

The Northwich Victoria roller coaster ride continued with a performance that contrasted in the extreme to the midweek display against play off contenders Exeter.
Second best from the start, they quickly fell behind to an early strike from Robbie SIMPSON who scored from an all too easily executed Chillingworth cross. The visitors were quick to exploit a weakness down both flanks and only a goal line clearance from Brown denied them an early second goal.

Vics only response was a free kick from debutant Christian Smith that barely tested Paul Crichton.

Cambridge increased their lead in the 25th minute when Wolleasten whipped in a cross for CHILLINGWORTH to score with a well-directed glancing header.
A disjointed and ineffective Vics were unable to muster any response and ought to have gone further behind shortly before the break but the upright provided the only barrier to Simpson adding the third with a well-struck shot.

Following the early introduction of Byrne for the disappointing debutant Smith, there was the odd indication that Vics, despite playing well below their best, might claw their way back into the game. But disaster struck in the 57th minute when Michael Carr was stretchered from the field with what initially was reported as being a nasty rib injury. Clearly this will have far more serious repercussions for the remaining fixtures should we lose our most consistent performer. As it was, it clearly took the steam out of any hope for comeback and the Vics display soon became mundane again.

And as they pushed forward without too much conviction Cambridge were able to break and pick them off to seal their win.
Not for the first time the outstanding SIMPSON shrugged off the best of Vics indifferent defensive attentions to score with a superlative 30-yard strike. And with 6 minutes remaining SIMPSON, albeit with a hint of the use of his hand, broke to complete an accomplished hat trick and seal a win that did not flatter his colleagues while, at the same time, served to highlight the inefficiencies of this Vics display.

Appropriately the roller coaster goes to the seaside on Tuesday but there will need to be far more highs than today, otherwise another significant defeat may follow.

Attendance: 1,156

Man of the Match: Robbie Simpson (Cambridge) - Vics did not possess one