Redditch United win first league match of the season at Northwich Victoria (From Northwich Guardian)

Redditch United win first league match of the season at Northwich Victoria

7:22pm Saturday 22nd August 2009 in

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CLICHÉ lover can trot out an old favourite after watching Vics’ second successive defeat; a week IS a long time in football.

This time seven days ago Andy Preece’s men were one win from ridding themselves of their 10-points handicap and moving out of the bottom three.

A week later they are rooted to the foot of the table.

This reverse, which handed Redditch their first win of the season following four consecutive losses, ripped off the flimsy cover that had been concealing worrying weaknesses.

Most alarming was a lack of intensity Preece had called for as an absolute minimum in the aftermath of Monday’s 5-1 mauling at Droylsden.

It was missing for most of the match.

Redditch deserved to break their duck, scoring at the end of each half – both from set pieces – to pinch the points.

Vics mustered a spell resembling a flurry at the start of the second period but when that failed to conjure an equaliser – and there were chances – they surrendered meekly.

Liam Francis had the freedom of Wincham to nod Lucan Spittle’s assist over the line two minutes before the break, applying the finishing touch to a set piece routine authored by David Bridgewater.

By then Redditch should already have been ahead.

Gary Hay, who later doubled the visitors’ tally with a free header from another Bridgewater set piece, blazed over with the goal at his mercy after skipping around Vics’ keeper Curtis Aspden.

At the other end Wayne Riley should perhaps have hit the target when sending a volley goalwards after the visitors failed to clear a corner.

Lee Elam missed a more presentable chance on 33 minutes after Mat Bailey had cushioned Luke Horrocks’ set piece into his path.

But, falling backwards, the former Altrincham wide man failed to connect with the ball properly with a clear sight of goal.

Francis’ goal followed.

Preece threw on Mark Danks for an anonymous Cayne Hanley, and he speared a volley past the far post from Elam’s cross within seconds of the restart.

Riley’s corner picked out skipper Simon Grand at the far post, but his header did not trouble keeper Danny Lewis.

Vics’ momentum dissipated soon afterwards.

Spittle headed wide from close range when meeting Bridgewater’s corner, then sub Andy Ducros fluffed a glorious chance after picking Horrocks’ pocket.

Faced only with Aspden, his shot trickled wide without forcing the keeper to act.

But, warnings unheeded, Redditch did double their tally when unmarked Hay diverted Bridgewater’s flag kick into the corner with a smart header.

It was their day.

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Star Man Michael Connor. Growing in confidence with every passing match. The former Manchester City Academy midfielder was unflustered in possession and rarely wasted a pass with the ball at his feet. He showed one or two flashes of skill too – most notably at the start of the second half when he cleverly made room on the edge of the penalty area for a shot. One to watch.

Vics (4-4-2) Aspden (GK), Aspin, Bailey, Grand, Horrocks (Burns 76), Riley, Connor, Winter, Elam, Allan, Hanley (Danks 46)
Subs not used Spencer (GK), Cadwallader, Richards
Booked Danks (handball)

Redditch (4-5-1) Lewis (GK), Dickenson, Spittle, Francis, Charlton, Bridgewater, Oliver (Bullimore 90), Byrne, Cooper (Ducros 66), Dance (Sheldon 86), Hay
Subs not used Daniels, Hegarty
Goal Francis 43, Hay 83
Booked Oliver (foul)

Referee Paul Graham (Manchester)
Attendance 483