STEVE Wilkes hopes a first victory since the turn of the year will provide a confidence boost to his players that he says they need.

They ended a five-match sequence in the North West Counties League without a win thanks to Olly Walker’s second-half double.

It also put behind them a drubbing by Bootle last weekend.

“To bounce back from that proves these lads have character,” said the Vics boss afterwards.

“They deserve credit for that after taking some stick following Saturday’s game.

“There was a lack of belief running through the side, and that showed in the early stages.

“However we looked fitter and stronger as the game progressed.”

He made five changes to a line-up that had started against the Bucks, and they started slowly.

Goalkeeper Michael Donlon had to be at his best to stop Mason Nevitt’s snapshot and an attempt by Anthony Lyons during the early exchanges.

Joe Whittington registered the home team’s first attempt on goal after half-an-hour.

Walker was unlucky to see a header drop the wrong side of an upright from Jay Hart’s cross before Antony Shinks, playing in an unfamiliar midfield role, scored an opener shortly before the break.

The former Runcorn Town man’s finish was clinical from Hart’s cut-back after Liam Bickett had started the move.

Liverpool drew level after an hour when Lyons converted full-back Callum Schorah’s cross from close-range.

Hart prompted Reds’ custodian Jack Cookson to save before Vics edged in front again on 74 minutes.

Walker kept calm to convert a penalty after substitute Jonny Gorman was tripped by Jay Howell.

The front man doubled his personal tally with seven minutes left, putting the game out of Liverpool’s reach, when he fired a shot out of Cookson’s reach after Gorman picked him out.

Vics | Donlon (GK), Lawrence, Kenny, Barski, Clarke, Adam Weston, Bickett, Shinks (Bennett 84), Walker, Hart (Durnin 84), Whittington (Gorman 71) Subs not used Allen Weston, Aspin Goals Shinks 45, Walker 74 (penalty), 83 Booked Clarke, Adam Weston

Liverpool | Cookson (GK), Hill, Fitzsimmons, Edgar, Schorah, McConchie, Nevitt, Woods, Lyons, Arnasalam (Avis 84), Howell Subs not used Cannon-Noren, Parr Goal Lyons 60 Booked McConchie, Woods

Attendance 70

Additional reporting by Jamie Dewsbury