THE VICS COLUMN - By Pete Tonge

WELL it’s been a mixed week for the Vics with a defeat in the FA Vase against lower ranked North Ferriby United, followed by a uninspiring loss away at Hanley Town in midweek, but at least it ended on a high when on Saturday they turned in a great performance to defeat Longridge Town to give Vics their first league win.

It wasn’t looking good initially with star signing Chad Whyte ruled out by a slight injury and influential midfielder Ryan Winder out for a few weeks after undergoing an operation mid-week.

However the loan signing of a left footed left back Leo Roberts allowed captain Joe Camozzi to move back to his natural right back position giving Vics a better balance.

But, although it was a complete team effort, it was a couple of new additions to the squad from the start of the season that changed the fortunes for Vics with tough tacking Dave Sherlock showing us what we had been missing in the middle as he made his first start of the season whilst youngster Matty Birchall ran Longridge ragged with his pace, movement and skill.

Matty is only 19 but has started all 7 matches for Vics so far this season proving the old adage that if you're good enough, you're old enough.

He’s also a local lad working from Northwich, and has joined fellow Northwichian Matty Clarke in becoming “one of our own”.

In the absence of Chad Whyte, he led the line superbly and surely has a great future ahead of him.

He started out at Bradford City Academy before being released and then played for Crewe FC in the Cheshire League before joining Vics at the start of this season.

Dave on the other hand brings a wealth of experience with him having spent 4 successful years at Atherton Collieries previously and is a versatile player having played in a variety of positions even making an appearance in goal for a bit in one match.

He had been patient this season having only made one previous appearance, in the FA Vase win against Golcar but on Saturday he took his chance to show what he can give the Vics, even scoring a cracker of a goal from 25 yards.

With substitutes of the calibre of Saul Henderson, Callum Jones and Saul Brew-Butler able to come on, this shows the strength of the first team squad and the competition for places which can only bode well for the rest of the season.

Finally, commiserations to Northwich Vixens, who came so close to causing a shock in the Women’s FA Cup as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Wem Town Ladies who are two leagues above them. They did Northwich proud.