This is how Pete Tonge saw the Northwich Victoria 6-1 home loss to Bury AFC on Friday night...

VICS were undone in the first half as Bury capitalised on three defensive mistakes to score three goals.

The tone was set in just the 7th minute as debutant keeper Ryan Hamer failed to collect a cross from the left and Sean Higgins was there to tap the ball into the net.

Two minutes later, Vics should have equalised as Allen flicked on a corner and Barski's header was cleared from the line.

Bury went 2-0 up after 20 minutes as Gilboy was released down the left. He slid the ball across to Wharton who had the easiest of tasks to score with Vics' defence hesitating.

Things got even worse as a routine long clearance upfield resulted in Higgins stealing in whilst two Vics defenders and the keeper hesitated, and he was left with the easiest of open goals to score his second tap in of the night.

Comber and Wharton then both had chances just over the bar before Lewis Gilboy fired a shot in off the left post from 20 yards in the 43rd minute.

Vics pulled one back on the stroke of half time as Matty Birchall nicked in at the near post to convert a low cross into the net.

HALF-TIME: Northwich Vics 1 Bury AFC 4

Vics came out for the second half with more purpose.

Ryan Jackson had a header well saved by Atkinson in the 53rd minute, whilst the returning Matty Clarke volleyed just wide from the edge of the area three minutes later.

Matty Birchall then drilled a shot just over the bar after a good move by Vics, but it was Bury who scored again in the 67th minute as Tinning found Connor Comber to the right who fired a great strike into the bottom corner. Hamer had no chance.

Vics were then denied by a dubious offside flag as Matt Dudley slammed the ball into the net from eight yards out, and to rub salt into Vics' wounds, Bury then went upfield and added a sixth goal as Anton Smith teamed up well with Rhain Hellawell before driving the ball into the net.

A night to forget for Vics, but you can't afford to make as many defensive mistakes as Vics did especially against a side as good as Bury.

Match facts:

Northwich Victoria 1 Bury FC 6

North West Counties Premier Division

Friday, December 30, 2022

At the U Lock It Stadium

Vics: Hamer, Camozzi (Cooney 83'), Allen , Barski, Bennett (Arthur 63'), Jackson R (Sotona 54'), Mather, Clarke (Muhammad So 77'), Chingwaro, Birchall, Dudley. Subs not used: Jackson M

GOALS: Northwich Vics: Birchall 45' Bury AFC: Higgins 7', 30', Wharton 20', Gilboy 43', Comber 67', Smith 87'

NEXT MATCHES: Wednesday, January 4 v Barnton, away, 7.45pm kick off ( Mid Cheshire Cup semi final)