THIS was the kind of victory, even at this stage of the season, that can knock a team off course.

On Friday Brig assistant boss Neil Reynolds said he was ‘chuffed’ with how last term’s promotion play-offs finalists had started the new campaign.

By the end of this head-to-head, which leaves the title favourites without a victory and seven points adrift of Vics, he will have been considerably less so.

In short, the visitors crumpled.

They were forced into submission by physically stronger opponents who earned a deserved reward for pressure that built gradually in the second half.

Alex Byrne had already drilled an attempt against an upright, and Stuart Cook swerved a free kick inches wide, by the time Iain Howard put Vics in front with 15 minutes left.

He benefitted from good fortune, nudging the ball over the line from close range after his initial attempt had been deflected away from goal by Darren Green.

However substitute Richie Bennett, introduced by manager Jim Gannon to support Josh Amis in attack, hooked it back into the six-yard box.

Howard reacted, applying a decisive touch.

There was little surprise when substitute Scott Duxbury led a counter, after the hosts had pinched possession from their guests who had pushed extra men forward in search of an equaliser, that ended with Jimmy Ball steering in a second with five minutes to go.

Danny Mahoney’s caution shortly afterwards, for retaliation after Bennett had fouled him, symbolised Brig’s frustration.

They ought to have led at half time, when two chances landed at Stuart Vasey’s feet.

The first, after Joe Booth clipped a clever pass over Vics’ defence, ended with goalkeeper Russell Griffiths saving smartly after the Brig forward contorted his body to volley goal-wards.

If he deserved sympathy then, his teammates will have looked less favourably on a dreadful miss on 25 minutes.

A quickly-taken free kick caught the home team’s defence out of position, leaving Brett Ormerod to race clear.

His first touch diverted the ball into Vasey’s path but, with the goal at his mercy, he sliced horribly off-target.

Ormerod limped off after play started again, and with him down the tunnel went the visitors’ attacking threat.

At the other end Howard, who had drilled wide in the early exchanges, blazed high with his weaker right foot after Brig failed to clear a free kick.

Vics went closest when Byrne’s drive from distance dipped over.

They improved after the interval, when they looked most likely to score from set pieces.

Cook curved his effort around an upright, while Byrne was unlucky to see his attempt rattle the post after Brig again were unconvincing in clearing a corner.

A significant improvement at both ends of the pitch is required if they are to mount a promotion challenge as strong as those in the past two seasons.

Meanwhile Northwich, after three successive wins without conceding a goal, have reason to feel much more optimistic.

Vics | 4-3-3| Griffiths (GK), Byrne, Clarke, Krou, Ali, Ball, Cook, Howard, Sanogo (Roddy 73), Amis (Duxbury 84), Williams (Bennett 67) Subs not used Smith (GK), Welsby Goals Howard 76, Ball 85 Booked Roddy (kicking the ball away)

Brig | 4-4-2 | Burgess (GK), Mahoney, Steel, Lawlor, Green, Thompson (Marlow 73), Booth, Milligan, Waddecar, Vasey, Ormerod (Linney 31) Subs not used Muscat, Kay, Alexander Booked Linney (foul), Mahoney (retaliation)

Referee Simon Mather

Attendance 156