Northwich Victoria 5 Padiham 1

BOSS Jim Gannon insists Vics are still far from their best despite a five-star performance against bottom side Padiham on Saturday.

Gary Burnett netted twice along with goals from Richie Bennet, Godwin Abadaki and Chris Smalley as Gannon’s side clung on the second spot in the Evo-Stik NPL First Division North.

But Gannon says there is still work to do if the Flixton-based side are to secure promotion this season.

“We still have a lot to work on and I think we are far from our best,” he said. “But there were lot of positive signs amongst the group throughout the last week’s work.

“We have had two very positive attacking performances and I believe we now have a very strong line-up of attackers.

“We worked on improving movement and interaction amongst those attackers and getting quick support from midfielders and full backs; I was pleased to see some positive signs in that regard.”

Burnett opened the scoring early on when he latched on to Bennett’s flicked header before slotting past Sean Davis.

A Mo Ali tackle stopped former Premier League man Brett Ormerod scoring on 20 minutes and moments later Vics increased their lead through Bennett.

Bobby Langford reduced the arrears nine minutes before the break, but Abadaki soon restored the two-goal lead from Bennett’s knock down.

Gannong added: “Despite the lead the majority of my half-time talk was harsh words to remind the players of their threat, what we had worked on in training and how we needed to be effective in the second half in killing the game off as a contest.”

Vics effectively did kill the game off on 64 minutes when Smalley broke down the left and sent a swerving cross into the box, which eluded everyone to find the net.

With 10 minutes remaining Burnett collected substitute Scott Harries’ pass before rifling home for the hosts’ fifth and his second of the afternoon.

Vics: Smith (GK), Smalley, Ali, Clarke, Henry, Summerskill, Sanogo (Amis 70), Roddy (Meadowcroft 83), Burnett, Bennett, Abadaki (Harries 78). Subs not used: Sherratt, McCoy (GK).