Compliments of Northwich Vics

[Guest]

Compliments of Vics until your own travelling fans get back to tell you their version.

Great game, 3-1 flattered us. See you in the new year

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

A QUICK FIRST REPORT PURELY FOR VICS FANS. A MORE ACCURATE AND BALANCED REPORT WILL FOLLOW.

VICS (2)3

 

Allan 19, Hughes 27 Brayson (pen) 89

CANVEY IS. (0)1

 

Duffy 64

 

Att 540

 

 

 

Allan Hughes (Hadland)

 

Brayson HarrisonDevlin Garvey (Hildred)

 

Pearce Charnock (Handyside McCarthy

 

Ralph

 

Subs not used Connett Foran Alex Lord (no information on him available)

 

 

 

This was a great game of football to watch and a credit to both sides. In some ways Canvey can claim to be unlucky and to have deserved a point but having worked their way back into the game they missed a penalty which could have set them up to go on and win and then fell victim to what was a constant threat and conceded a breakaway goal (albeit off the penalty after a trip as Allan was about to score).

 

The game was played against a wonderful backdrop of firework displays and it was as if the teams wanted to provide something as good on the pitch. After a lively opening edged by Canvey but with neither side creating a clear chance the game really came to life on 17 mins. The excellent Keeling (a thorn in Vics left side all night) produced a diving save from Ralph and a minute later an Allan flick on gave Hughes a chance but he shot just wide. A minute later the position was reversed and off a Brayson cross Hughes headed on for Allan to coolly finish past Potter. Canvey’s reply was immediate and Kennedy headed a good cross but saw Ralph turn it wide. Whilst both teams attacked it was Vics who were becoming dominant and it was no surprise when Hughes fired home a beauty from 18 yds to make it 2-0 after 27 mins. Both sides had a good chance as half time approached but Vics looked comfortable. One felt that Canvey’s attacking play, whilst good to watch, played right into Vics strengths.

 

The second half was a different game though. After Brayson fired a free kick over an excellent shot from Gregory produced an equally good save from Ralph. On 54 mins canvey brought on 2 subs, one Chris Duffy a previous favourite for Vics in our days at the Drill Field. The gamne became more end to end but Canvey were the more dangerous. On 64 mins a Sterling cross was nodded in by Duffy and Vics looked vulnerable. Keeling was getting acres of space on the left and Vics were hanging on. Eventually Keeling again went through but was tripped by McCarthy and a penalty awarded. It wass no more than the visitors but Gregory fired well over the bar and Vics breathed again. Still Canvey pressed and Vics relied on breaks but could not relieve the pressure. However, off a clearance in the 89th minute Allan went clear right into the middle of the box but was tripped by Cowan 15yds out and Vics won a penalty. How the ref could only show a Cowan a yellow beggared belief as it looked a text book example of a sending off offence. Fortunately it didn’t matter as Brayson fired the penalty low inside the left post. Still Canvey came at us and we had 2 more narrow shaves but in the end we got the 3 points and moved off the bottom.

 

A poor ref tonight, he rightfully booked Allan, McCarthy, Hughes and Handyside but let a lot go from Canvey.

 

Still, a great game and the workrate of Canvey was excellent and they look a useful team.

 

Official man of the match – McCarthy. Mine was Allan.

[YELLOW]

Just heard Jeff King having a bit of a go at the players over the first half performance. From what I heard on the radio we were pretty dire but played much better in the second half and were unlucky not to snatch something.

[A Non E Mouse]

Pretty much agree with the unbiased Vics report above.

 

There must have been about 30 - 40 Canvey fans who made the journey North last night and, I presume like me, looking forward to a good result. It was all a bit surreal watching the fireworks going off outside the ground as Vics hit the back of the net first.

 

Canvey just didn't seem to be at the races and the game was really lost in the first half. Even the players who can normally turn a game, such as Kelling, didn't seem to get to grips in the first half and we seemed to be pushed a little to deep in our own half. Vics front players seemed quick and the whole team seemed very much up for it. The Vics did get a number of cards and in general they were deserved - although the ref seemed distracted from what was really going on - perhaps the fireworks and loud bangs. Ollie took a number of tackles to the ankle and went down two or three times in the second half holding it - hope he hasn't taken to much of a beating.

 

Vics second goal from where I was standing looked as though he had his back to goal turned with the defender and struck the ball - not the sort of ball that you'd expect to go in - normally covered by the defender and the keeper - anyway 2, nil down and some very disappointed Gulls fans.

 

Second half started in a simlar vain although Canvey started to play a little deeper and we were getting more chances. Then the double substitution and a lot more urgency from Canvey. Last 20 minutes it all started getting a little more one sided and alot more exciting with Canvey pushing for the goal. It got to a point where it felt it was just a matter of time. When the ball got played into the Canvey half it seemed as though it was picked up by Gavin or one of the other defenders and back passed to Danny who just kicked it straight back up the other end for another attack.

 

I've been a bit critical of Duffers but he took his chance well and once we got the goal we really felt the second was just around the corner.

 

A short while later john Keeling who had got more involved with the game and was showing more of what he is capable of ran at the defender and a gentle clip of the ankle from the Vics defender and he went down for a non disputed penalty. Up steps Greggors and who tried to hit it to the top right, but managed to ballon it right in front of the Gulls fans. S**t happens and you still felt there was time for Canvey to get something and then from a lovely through ball Greggors latched onto it and with the ball not on the ground smashed it low and into the corner only to find the linesman had his flag raised - start barrage of abuse from the away fans. Ollie managed to catch a through ball that just went wide of the post - but time was running out. Vics got possesion in our half and it looked like the ball still had some pace on it as Cowans and Johnny Allan went for the ball about 15 yards out - it looked to me as though it was going across the area and could possibly have been seen across with less danger but Cowans caught Allans ankle, who went down for the second penalty of the night. Well taken penalty and their third goal which didn't reflect the effort Canvey had placed in the last 30 minutes - unfortunately to little to late with the game being lost in the first half (IMHO)

 

Vics played fairly well and had a little bit of pace and determination about them, and I've seen other teams play worse this season. Good luck to them.

 

Thanks to Junior, sedgemore, wardy and a couple of the other players who acknowledged the away support - some others trudged off. Jeff King normally thanks the fans as well but even he steamed off - so presume he was very disappointed with throwing the game away in the first half. We will need to be a lot sharper next weekend against the Shots.

 

The only bright thing in an otherwise disappointing night was the Orange away shirts which were more colourful than the fireworks going off around us.

[A Non E Mouse]

Good, and very accurate write up about the game on Vics V Canvey

 

The interesting bit is at the bottom -

 

Quote:

will be delighted to have taken maximum points from one of the best sides we have seen this season.

 

After a very poor first half it's a thin line between failure and success...........