NORTHWICH Victoria progressed in the Macron Cup with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Barnoldswick Town.

Vics, who will host Runcorn Town at home in the second round on Saturday, November 9, worked hard all match and never allowed Barnoldswick to get into the game.

They started off brightly and earned a corner in the first minute which was easily cleared, and then a free kick was whipped in by Ryan Winder, but it was too high for the Vics' attackers.

The first main chance came to Vics in the 11th minute when man of the match Saul Henderson, starting for the first time, laid the ball off to Harvey Whyte on the edge of the area, but his shot whistled inches wide of the left post.

The next minute, Vics should have had a penalty when Winder drove into the box, poked the ball round the keeper Ryan Livesey who brought him down.

However, the ref waved play on!

Vics weren't to be denied for long, though.

In the 17th minute, good pressure led to a stray pass from a Town defender straight to Henderson in the box.

With one touch, he easily drove the ball into the back of the net.

A few minutes later, Ben Greenop nearly made it 2-0 from a Barski flick on but Livesey pushed it wide for a corner.

Two minutes later, they came even closer, when another Winder cross was headed onto the post by a Town defender.

Vics were then gifted a second goal as Livesey somehow failed to pick up the ball, and only succeeded in giving possession to the alert Jamie Reed who tapped the ball in.

Barnoldswick were rarely threatening anything with their best chance of the first half being a Joe Noblet shot from distance which Danny Taberner saved easily in the 38th minute.

The second half was one of little goalmouth action with Vics comfortably keeping Town at bay, without threatening too much themselves.

Indeed it wasn't until the 70th minute that anything noteworthy happened, when Barnoldswick gained a free kick 25 yards out but it was fired well over the bar.

Vics were quick to respond as Henderson bore down the right side of the area, beat one defender but fired straight at the keeper who pushed it out for a corner.

Three minutes later, Greenop did well down the left, and could have had a shot but chose to lay the ball across the box which was cleared.

Vics made sure of the win in the 85th minute when Henderson picked the ball up in space about 22 yards out and fired his shot into the bottom right corner of the net.

Barnoldswick grabbed a consolation goal a minute from time when Zac Dale did well down the left and crossed the ball for Ric Seear to head in.

Vics: Taberner, Camozzi, Wilson, Kenny, Barski, Whyte, Clarke , Winder (Vinten 86'), J Reed (FitzGerald 82), Greenop, Henderson. Subs not used: S Reed, R Doran, P Doran.

Peter Tonge