Saturday 29th September 2007

Vics 1 v? 3? Woking

The last thing that a side that has lost nine consecutive league games was a farcical error by keeper Ben Connett so early in the game. With the ball at his feet and time and opportunity to clear he waited long enough for PATTISON to move forward leaving the Vics keeper to attempt to experiment the qualities of an out field player and dribble beyond the Woking forward and he failed - leaving the former Farnborough player to score an embarrassingly easy goal.

Shorlty afterwards Joe Gatting went alarmingly close to adding a second. Vics began to look more comfortable going forward and may have equalised had keeper Nick Ginder not parried a Carr shot from a Maylett cross and then the Coulson follow up not been cleared from off the goal line. Sadly things remained less impressive at the back and when Lomu crossed from the right GATTING scored with an unchallenged header to make it 2-0.

Vics continued to create some openings and, following a slide rule pass from Heslop, Brown shot inches wide. Yet the glaring defensive weaknesses continued to cause concern and, after Birch again had been exposed by pace, an angled shot from Marvin Morgan looked certain to add a third until Connett scrambled back to scoop the shot from off his line. Coulson, not for the first time in his short spell at the club, again went close just before the break.

Caretaker boss Dino Maamria, assisted by Lee Steele, made a significant substitution by replacing the beleaguered Birch with the pacier Josh Wilson. And suddenly Vics looked far more comfortable at the back. Wilson provided both pace and an intelligent use of the ball that created a new dimension. Townson hit a left foot shot that stretched the Woking keeper and then Carr lifted a shot onto the roof of the net.

Woking were now struggling to pose any threat and it appeared that should Northwich reduce the arrears at this stage then a positive outcome was not beyond their reach. Byrne replaced Maylett and went very close with a shot from the edge of the box. Yet ineffective defending ended the revival all too familiarly. Another highball into the box left HAKIM the opportunity to sidestep a Battersby challenge and score far too easily.

Moments later Vics grabbed a consolation goal when a BROWN freekick from the right sailed into the far top corner with few others responding effectively.
Too little too late and although this was again an improved performance the very basics, both at the back and upfront, remain a serious concern.

?Referee: D. Webb

Attendance: 550
Man of the Match: Josh Wilson