Droylsden hit five to send Northwich Victoria to first defeat of season (From Northwich Guardian)

Droylsden hit five to send Northwich Victoria to first defeat of season

2:41pm Tuesday 18th August 2009 in

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NORTHWICH Victoria were deservedly thrashed by Droylsden, who predictably provided far stiffer opposition than their previous opponents.

A distressing injury list, that grew longer got worse during the game, provided some mitigation but the manner of their capitulation will concern manager Andy Preece.

The visitors enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, but created little of note.

At the other end, former Witton Albion wide man Shaun Whalley was already showing signs of what was come as he beat Nat Kerr too easily before seeing his goalbound shot bravely intercepted by the head of Danny Meadowcroft.

Kerr was to play no further part in the game when, moments later, he left the field with a shoulder injury.

He was replaced by Harry Winter, leaving Lee Elam to deputise at full back.

Already shorn of Browns Junior and Ryan through injury, plus Mike Aspin (ineligible), Vics operated with two wingers at the sides of their backline.

Droylsden were quick to capitalise and, after Meadowcroft had executed a copybook last-ditch challenge to deny Simon Ye,o his colleagues failed to respond.

Tony Gray took advantage to make it 1-0.

Steve Beck should have added a second, but scooped a volley wide from six yards before Whalley took advantage of the acres of space allowed him to score with a 30-yard shot that bent inside the far post.

Two saves by Curtis Aspden to deny Neil Sorvel and Beck just before the break served only as temporary damage limitation.

Vics came out looking more determined after the break.

Jonny Allan latched onto a long pass from Elam, surging into the box before scoring with a well-placed shot to halve Vics’ arrears.

Whalley ensured the spell was quickly lifted when he skipped around Luke Horrocks to cross onto the head of Yeo, but he surprisingly failed to find the target from close range.

Any remaining hopes of a Vics revival were snubbed out by the exit of Meadowcroft through injury.

Elam then gifted possession to Yeo, and he slid the ball into the path of Whalley who fired into the bottom corner.

Beck beat Horrocks on the opposite flank to score from an acute angle to make it 4-1 before another ex-Albion man, Liam Brownhill, beat Horrocks to shave the post with a 20-yard drive.

Horrocks broke the pattern by forcing Chris Howarth into a save from a looping shot before substitute Paul Brown returned proceedings to normality by scoring another spectacular goal from distance.

Droylsden introduced late substitutes that permitted their guests a chance to create scoring opportunities, notably two strikes from Michael Connor.

By then the damage was done.

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Vics (4-4-2) Aspden (GK), Kerr (Winter 23), Meadowcroft (Cadwallader 55), Grand, Horrocks, Riley, Herring (Hanley 46t), Connor, Elam, Allan, Burns
Subs not used Spencer (GK), Danks
Goal Allan 51
Bookings Grand, Elam (both fouls)

Referee Michael Denton (Lancashire)
Attendance 568