NORTHWICH Vics comfortably held higher league Lancaster City to a 0-0 draw at The Giant Axe to earn an FA Cup first qualifying round replay at Wincham Park on Wednesday, kick-off 7.45pm

In a somewhat scrappy but compelling match with few clear cut chances for either side, Vics will be disappointed that they didn’t come away with a win.

They started brightly, and after just 4 minutes, they had a strong claim for a penalty waved away as Jamie Reed was bundled over in the box when he was only 4 yards out.

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Tom Kilifin, one of three ex Lancaster players in the Vics squad along with Rob Henry and Ryan Winder, managed to find space to drive a shot just wide of the post.

Then it was Winder’s turn to drive forward from midfield and fire a shot in, which Sam Ashton in the Lancaster net did well to turn for a corner.

The game then evened out and both teams probed from midfield for an opening.

After 26 minutes, Lancaster worked it well down the left, and whipped a ball across but Brad Carsley could only head over the bar.

Two minutes later, and it was Bailey’s turn to get his head on a floated free kick by Lancaster but again, it went harmlessly over the bar.

In the second half, Lancaster had most of the possession but could do little with it, as Vics chased and harried and looked dangerous on the break.

However, Vics were indebted to Danny Taberner for a wonderful one handed save low to his right to tip the ball round the post when the ball seemed to be almost over the line.

61 minutes in, and Lancaster had another good chance when an initial corner was cleared by Vics, the ball was driven back in and Matty Blinkhorn was free in the box, but his shot was high over the bar.

It was Vics’ turn next as Kilifin fired a shot in which was blocked for a corner. The corner was floated into the back post where Michael Wilson rose highest but couldn’t keep the ball down and it went over the bar.

Vics were resolute in defence, and indeed they looked the team most likely to snatch a winner in the last 15 minutes or so.

John Connolly went close after 75 minutes, when he just failed to toe poke the ball home after he met a low cross as he and a defender slid in.

4 minutes later, a lovely move by Vics led to Joe Camozzi finding room on the right of the area, but his shot was well blocked by a defender.

In the 85th minute, Lancaster earned a free kick right on the edge of the box but the effort went high over the bar without troubling Taberner.

Vics went close again in the first minute of injury time, as Ben Greenop thought he had beaten the offside trap and chipped the ball over the keeper’s head into the net but the assistant had already put his flag up.

Then in the final minute, Winder had a chance from a free kick 22 yards out, but failed to beat the Lancaster wall.

A compelling match though with few chances overall but Vics were resolute in defence and always looked dangerous on the break and will feel disappointed that they didn’t win.

The replay is on Wednesday at Wincham Park with a 7.45pm kick off.

Vics: Taberner, Henry, Wilson, Kenny, Barski, Winder, Camozzi, Grundy (Clarke 72'), Reed (Whyte 88') Kilifin (Connolly 73'), Greenop. Unused subs: Fitzgerald, Fleming, Pilkington, Thompson.