Saturday 30th August 2008
Crawley 5 (Bailey og 6 Cook 24 64 Killeen 27 Weatherstone 45)
Vics 2 (Steele 49 Flynn 59)

A litany of errors that would have been embarassing at schoolboy level set the standard toward a dreadful Vics performance and an ultimate mawling. Matt BAILEY, deputising for the injured Michael Welch, began the process when unchallenged he met a harmless punt into the box to glance a header into his own net. Moments later Jamie Cook headed over the bar when it should have been easier to score and with the Vics defence once more at sixes and sevens Killeen had a goalbound shot deflected wide.

Having done well to win a challenge on the edge of the box Ryan Brown then woefully underhit his back pass and only a race from his line by Tynan eventually saved the day. Cook turned Roberts inside out and Tynan again was called upon to save. Bailey misjudged another long punt leaving Weatherstone to lift his shot over an inviting goal. But an inevitable second goal proved not long in coming and when Killeen cut unchallenged down the left his cross was converted by COOK with a precise near post header. Flynn and Roberts vented their frustrations and both were booked as Vics were being over ran.

Michael Byrne took his turn at carelessly giving away possession in front of his own defence allowing KILLEEN to race into the box to round an exposed Tynan to score a third. Could things get any worse? Most definatey YES. Mike Marsh, who was a surprising debutant in midfield, was booked for a rash tackle before Bailey managed a header toward the right goal but it lacked the same precision as his sixth minute effort at the opposite end. As it was Crawley added to Vics indignity by scoring a fourth just before half time. With the Northwich defence once again floundering Killeen forged down the left to deliver a cross leaving the unchallenged WEATHERSTONE to score with embarrassing ease.

Lee STEELE managed to partially lift the spirits of the Vics fans, who deserved more for their efforts in enduring a 440 mile round trip than what was on offer, when he collected a Stamp knock down to execute a clinical finish. Tynan was soon in action again to deny Weatherstone. And it was the determined Steele, whose attitude was refreshing, who conjured a second goal when he forged to the byline and cut back a cross for FLYNN to score with a header. Any hopes of an unlikely comeback were quickly dispelled when defensive frailties were again ruthlessly exposed by COOK and he took advantage of limitless time and space to score. Forrest beat the exposed Roberts to lay a cross for Cook to head against the bar.

Stamp forced Raynor into a rare save before he was replaced by debutant Phil Marsh. And there was still time for Anton Douglas to spurn another scoring opportunity before the referee's whistle finally put an end to Northwich's misery.

Team: 4-3-3
Tynan /
Aspin, Bailey, Roberts, Brown /
Byrne (Mullan 58), Flynn, M. Marsh (Crowell 70) /
Steele, Stamp (P. Marsh 77), Allan /
Subs not used: Jones & Sutton
Referee: M. Downey
Attend: 776 (59 Vics fans)
Man of the Match: Lee Steele - He did everything in his power to set an example and try to inspire his beleaguered colleagues.