NORTHWICH Victoria were defeated at home by Squires Gate on Saturday despite leading 2-0 within half an hour, writes Pete Tonge.

After eight minutes Aaron Burns outmuscled the defence after chasing down a ball over the top, rounded Jordan Gidley in the Gate net and slotted home.

A long kick from Gidley was missed by Wilson and found Jack Iley who rounded Danny Taberner in the Vics net but Kieron Kenny was on hand to smash the angled shot clear.

Jake Higham squared the ball across to Dean Ing whose shot was goal-bound until Taberner pushed the ball round for a corner.

Vics extended their lead after 25 minutes when Jack Dorney did well down the left and crossed low to the near post where Burns just managed to stretch out and poke the ball into the net.

Burns nearly got his third a few moments later but his shot was blocked by a Gate defender.

The visitors finally got one back after 39 minutes when Taberner did brilliantly to stop a Boyd strike, and then a Higham effort but couldn’t stop Ing heading in the rebound.

On the stroke of half-time, Vics nearly regained their two-goal advantage when Kev Pollard won the ball in midfield and laid on Saul Henderson but his shot from the edge of the area was well saved.

Gate equalised from a corner which Vics failed to clear properly, and despite another fine initial save by Taberner, Jake Higham was quickest to react and fired in the rebound.

Eight minutes later, with Vics pushing forward, they lost the ball on the edge of Gate’s penalty area and Sam Staunton-Turner burst away and found Josh Pollard, whose shot was saved but Ing was there to fire in the loose ball for 3-2.

Vics started pressing forward more and more, Burns had an effort tipped on to the post and Pollard shot just wide after bringing the ball down well but Squires Gate held on to record a precious victory for themselves.

Vics: Taberner, Henry (Camozzi 70), Wilson, Kenny, Barski, Winder, Clarke ( Peters 82), Pollard, Dorney (Kilifin 70), Henderson, Burns. Subs not used: Bruce, Christopher.