Gainsborough 1 Vics 4 (From Northwich Guardian)

Jonny Allan scores twice as Northwich Victoria thrash Gainsborough Trinity

9:17pm Saturday 19th September 2009 in Match reports By Andrew Simpson

Gainsborough 1 Vics 4

NORTHWICH Victoria’s third successive win was a convincing one.

They picked a way through the porous holes in Trinity’s backline in a measured manner – scoring four times – to send out a message to their rivals.

Without a point penalty they would be in the play-offs.

Andy Preece’s men have amassed 20 points this term, winning six of their 11 matches, scoring nine goals in their past three outings.

The same team has started each of those.

Vics’ front three of Mark Danks, Jonny Allan and Lee Elam is starting to show a fluidity that opponents find tough to counter.

Allan had fired over after swapping passes with Elam and then the former Altrincham man had been inches from turning Mike Aspin’s teasing centre into a goal before the quarter hour.

Simon Grand saved a certain goal at the other end, timing his tackle on Glyn Hurst to perfection as Trinity’s front man prepared to shoot.

Vics led on 19 minutes.

Allan, who had skidded a free header of Ian Herring’s cross seconds earlier, made no mistake when meeting Aspin’s free kick.

The hosts, as predicted by new boss Brian Little before kick off, could not cope with Vics’ set pieces.

Hurst headed over to warn the visitors their work was done, then Allan sliced a shot off target under pressure from Nathan Peat after Danks had ghosted into space down the left.

Danks turned scorer for the fourth time in three matches on 40 minutes, meeting Elam’s assist with an assured volley after the match officials had allowed an advantage following a foul in the build up.

Mat Bailey forced keeper Phil Barnes to tip over – again from an Elam set piece – before Grand repeated the trick from the resulting corner.

This time Darren Dunning cleared off the line.

Vics succumbed to the ex-Factor within 60 seconds of the restart, former front runner Darryn Stamp steering a smart shot past Curtis Aspden at the back post from Ashley Burbeary’s centre following a Trinity counter.

Their rally lasted a minute.

Jake Picton floored Allan inside the box at the other end, Vics’ top scorer making it six for the season from the spot kick.

Grand met Jon D’Laryea’s chip with a header that was too close to Barnes, while at the other end Mark Greaves should have done better than head weakly at Aspden after he arrived unmarked on to Picton’s deep free kick.

Burbeary forced Vics’ custodian to make an impressive parry as Trinity temporarily took advantage of Vics’ drop in intensity.

That ended with the introduction of on-loan striker Declan Edwards.

The Stockport County teenager was sprightly, willing to dribble at – and past – opponents to offer the visitors’ attack an added dimension.

Vics were denied another penalty when Peat clipped Michael Connor’s heel before Hurst, haplessly, fluffed the hosts’ best chance.

The former Chester City forward, alone inside the six-yards box, rolled a feeble finish against the post when it was easier to scrore.

Gainsborough, who conceded four in front of their own fans last weekend, were punished when Bailey nodded in the rebound after Barnes had parried Allan’s drive four minutes from time.

Star Man It has to be Jonny Allan. Hyper critics will say he should have had a hat-trick, but his performance was about much more than his brace of goals. Led the line with aggression and intensity. He’ll probably never win so many headers in a match either. Ian Herring is a growing influence in Vics’ midfield, while Mike Aspin’s combinations with Lee Elam down the right hand side of Northwich’s attack are fast-becoming a potent weapon.

Gainsborough Barnes (GK), Picton, Greaves, Parker, Peat, Burbeary, Dunning, Hunt, Semple (Mallon 62), Stamp, Hurst
Subs not used Hall, Davies, Austin
Goal Stamp 47
Booked Peat, Picton, Stamp (all fouls)

Vics Aspden (GK), Aspin, Bailey, Grand, Junior Brown, Connor (Winter 77), Herring, D’Laryea, Elam, Allan (Riley 87), Danks (Edwards 66)
Subs not used Kerr, Vaughan
Goals Allan 19, 49 (penalty), Danks 40, Bailey 86
Booked Junior Brown (throwing the ball away), Grand (foul)

Attendance 416