Northwich Victoria manager Andy Preece hails his team's fine start (From Northwich Guardian)

Northwich Victoria manager Andy Preece hails his team's fine start

12:34pm Wednesday 25th August 2010 in

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ANDY Preece believes beating Bradford Park Avenue will give his players confidence they can cut it at the top of the Evo-Stik Premier Division this season.

The Northwich Victoria manager told the Guardian that the three points were priceless following Vics’ 2-1 victory on Tuesday.

“It’s a massive win for us,” he said.

“Bradford [Park Avenue] are a good side – be under no illusion about that – and will be up there challenging at the end of the season.

“Their team is full of players with experience of this level; ours isn’t.

“So to have six points from the first two games is more than I could have dreamed of and it’s given everybody a huge lift.”

Andy Fowler scored his first goal for Northwich to put the hosts ahead, then Wayne Riley blasted in a penalty after Matthew Brown had been pushed.

Preece admitted the second goal, in first half stoppage time, was key.

“We weren’t at our best and it’s true to say we rode our luck at times,” he said.

“We hadn’t played too well but led 2-0 at half time and that was significant because it gave us a cushion.

“I thought we played best in the spell just after half time when we might have made it three our four nil at that would have been game over.

“Next minute it’s 2-1 and suddenly we were on the back foot.”

Adam Clayton ghosted on to Tom Greaves’ flick to dispatch a fine finish past James Spencer to halve the visitors’ deficit.

They did not force the Vics’ custodian to make another save, but felt that Brown escaped a red card following his tangle with substitute Kevin Sanasy as he threatened to run clear.

“I would have wanted a foul,” admitted Preece.

“We got away with it.

“But this group fights and they will have to in order to win matches.”

Vics are one of three teams to have won both their league encounters to date.

Ashton United, helped by former Northwich fans favourite Lee Steele, and Matlock Town are the others with maximum points.

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