NORTHWICH Victoria exited the FA Vase despite taking a second-half lead at North Ferriby, by Pete Tonge.

On the whole it was a lacklustre performance by Steve Wilkes' side and yet another defeat after taking the lead.

Vics never really got going in the first half, and Ferriby had their first chance after just 3 minutes as Laurence McKay broke down the left and fired a shot in which went just wide of the post.

Three minutes later, Vics nearly gifted Ferriby a goal, as keeper Mike Hale's clearance was partially blocked and the ball fell to a Ferriby player who tried to lob the out-of-position keeper but fortunately got it all wrong.

Chances were far and few between for Vics, but they did create one in the 18th minute as Whyte cleverly laid the ball back to Ryan Winder with his chest, but Winder's half volley was over the bar.

Then in the 27th minute, Matty Birchall did well down the right and chipped the ball across but Darrhyl Mason couldn't quite climb high enough to get any power on his header and it was easily saved.

Ferriby took the lead in the 38th minute as they switched the ball well across field to Danny East who laid it inside for Louis Kirk to tuck the ball into the back of the Vics net.

Vics started the second half much better and got the equaliser after 53 minutes as the ball was played through to Mason who used his strength to hold off his man before slotting the ball past Exall in the Ferriby net.

This sparked Vics into life and a second was quick to follow as Birchall picked the ball up down the left and cut inside and fired a 25 yarder into the back of the net. A great strike.

The game then settled down again and Vics looked fairly comfortable but Ferriby were having more of the ball without creating too much.

However in the 75th minute, Hale was called into action as he had to tip over a goal-bound header for a corner.

From the resultant corner, the ball was headed down by Tarbotton and swept into the net by substitute Scott Phillips.

Worse was to come for Vics as two minutes later, Tarbotton went on a mazy run into the box, and fell to the ground.

The ref said there was contact and a penalty awarded which Danny East powered down the middle.

Vics never looked likely to get the equaliser to take the game to penalties, and the game meandered to a deserved victory for the Villagers.

Vics: Hale, Cook, Kenny, Barski, Camozzi, Dunn. Birchall ( Henderson 72'), Clarke, Winder, Mason, Whyte ( Carr 85'). Unused subs: Brew-Butler, Jones.

Next matches:

Wednesday 14th October: Away versus Hanley Town 7.45 ( NWC League)

Saturday 17th October: Home versus Longridge Town 3.00pm ( NWC League)