DETERMINED Vics held on at Charnock Richard for a well earned 2-2 draw, writes Pete Tonge.

Nevertheless, it was disappointing, yet again, to lose a two-goal lead.

In among it there was a good debut by Tom Powell, who always looked dangerous down the right and gave the team a better shape against the second-placed North West Counties Premier Division side.

After 13 minutes a cross from the right by Powell was flicked on by Aaron Burns and Tom Kilifin just failed to get on the end of it.

Vics took the lead in the 14th minute when Powell volleyed a cross towards goal and Burns deflected it home, although he didn’t know much about it.

Charnock nearly replied instantly when ex-Trickie Jordan Darr tested Taberner with a rasping drive after a corner.

The match was fairly even with both sides passing the ball nicely, but with few clear-cut chances for either team.

However, Vics had several efforts in the 33rd minute when in a crazy 15 second spell, the ball ricocheted around in the Charnock box, before Burns skied the final shot high and wide.

Grimshaw's shot from a free-kick was inches wide of the Vics goal.

The next minute, Burns turned his man on the edge of the area, burst into the box and was hauled down by Turner who somehow escaped a yellow card but the penalty was awarded.

Burns stepped up and fired the ball low to the left of the keeper, who made a good save.

Vics nearly extended their lead just before half time, when a Winder cross just evaded Kieron Kenny’s head.

A quiet start to the second half ensued until the ball was fed through to Kilifin in the inside left channel. He held off his man and fired a low shot from the edge of the area into the bottom corner of the net to give Vics a two-goal lead after 53 minutes.

Vics were looking fairly comfortable now, and the next 10 minutes passed with both sides still probing, and earning a couple of corners each which came to nothing.

The game changed in the 65th minute when a Grimshaw free-kick was deflected off the wall and headed in by Ross O’Farrell who looked to be well off-side.

In the 72nd minute, a ball in by Griffith was deflected off a Vics players' head into the path of Darr who slammed his shot into the back of the net to equalise.

Vics didn’t let their heads go down though, and responded well.

Burns had a strike straight at the keeper soon after, but in the 84th minute, Vics were indebted to Brandon Barski for a brilliant last ditch tackle to deprive Darr as he threatened to get one-on-one with Danny Taberner.

Vics had the last chance in the 88th minute when a lovely Winder cross found substitute Matty Clarke free in the box but he couldn’t direct his header on goal when he had more time than he thought.

Vics: Taberner, Henry, Kenny, Barski, Peters, Powell (Clarke 85), Camozzi, Pollard, Winder, Kilifin (Henderson 70), Burns (Dorney 85). Subs not used: Wilson, Christopher.