Three and easy for Morecambe (From Warrington Guardian)

Three and easy for Morecambe

IT IS now more than 25 years since Northwich Victoria last won a league game at Christie Park and, once they had fallen behind, the current crop never looked capable of ending that record.

All the early indications had been good with Colin Potts driving narrowly wide after a wind assisted cross from Stephen Nicholas had dropped over the head of David Perkins and into the winger's path.

Andy Woods, who was outstanding again, produced saves to deny Stuart Drummond and Dean Howell before an intended clearance from the Morecambe keeper Craig Mawson cannoned off the body of his own defender leading to a desperate scramble which ended with a fortuitous clearance.

Perkins threaded a pass between two Vics defenders for Terry McFlynn to further test Woods before Shaun Came, returning to the side after a lengthy lay-off, got in a vital header to concede a corner from a dangerous McFlynn cross.

McFlynn played the corner short for Howell to cross to the near post and Danny Carlton nipped in to force Woods into a superb save at the foot of the post.

Already without the services of defenders Phil Brazier and Kieran Charnock, Vics were dealt a severe blow when Paul McGuire limped from the field to be replaced by Lee Woodyatt.

Moments later Morecambe opened the scoring with a quality goal.

Drummond won the ball deep in his own half and surged almost the full length of the pitch before finding Carlton on the edge of the box .

He squeezed a shot inside the right hand post despite the attentions of two Vics defenders.

Morecambe moved in for the kill and Woods was forced to pull off a superb save to deny Garry Thompson.

This proved to be only a temporary delay to the home side adding to their lead and when Chris Blackburn carelessly gifted possession to Thompson, the impressive winger beat two defenders before scoring with a well-struck left foot shot.

Scott Willis did manage to set up Nicholas to force a save from Mawson before The Shrimps sealed the game with a third goal from the penalty spot.

Although a run from Thompson appeared to be taking him away from the goal the hapless Blackburn was adjudged to have pushed him to the ground inside the box.

Carlton stepped up to convert from the spot leaving Vics with the real prospect of another heavy defeat.

To their credit Vics began the second half showing grim determination and the immediate introduction of Chris Thompson for the ineffectual Craig Mitchell gave them much needed impetus.

Thompson won the chase with Craig Mawson down the left to a Potts through ball only to narrowly over hit his cross beyond the unmarked Potts in front of an unguarded goal.

Willis then shot narrowly wide before Mawson made an instinctive goal line save with his legs to deny Came from a point blank header.

And Vics' injury crisis worsened as Chris Royle limped off to be replaced by Mark Foran.

Morecambe, who began to struggle to make any ground, were limited to long-range shots, which Woods dealt with comfortably. But sadly Vics were unable to muster the necessary firepower to get them back into a game which eventually limped to an inevitable conclusion.

VICS: Woods, McGuire (Woodyatt 27), Teale, Came, Royle (Foran 67), Potts, Blackburn, Devlin, Willis, Nicholas, Mitchell (Thompson 45). Subs not used: Ralph, Norris. Attendance: 1,597.