Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

DROYLSDEN 5 - 1 NORTHWICH VICTORIA

Blue Square North – Monday 17th August 2009

Report by Gary Owen

Whilst the scoreline looks impressive from Droylsden's perspective, it doesn't give credit to Northwich's contribution to this hugely entertaining game at the Butcher's Arms.

Indeed, the difference between the two sides was really down to finishing.

With Vics fresh from a comfortable victory over Solihull Moors and Droylsden smarting from an awful display at Gainsborough, many thought this game would have swung the other way, and during the early moments it seemed liked Andy Precce's men were out to swamp The Bloods, virtually camping-out in their half for the opening ten minutes.

However, for all of Northwich's early pressure, Chris Howarth had little to do in the Droylsden goal, save for a dash from his line when Mike Byron sold him woefully short to block from Jonny Allan. Aaron Burns also shot well over for the Vics from the edge of the box.

Droylsden were able to ride that storm to enable Simon Yeo to have a shot deflected by Wayne Riley, with Neil Sorvel steering the resultant corner kick wide.

Vics had to re-shuffle on 24 minutes, when Nat Kerr had to depart due to injury – Lee Elam taking the unusual role of right back, with Harry Winter on the right flank.

Moments later, Droylsden took the lead, when man of the match Tony Gray latched onto a flick on by Yeo to beat Danny Meadowcroft and convert past Curtis Aspden.

Gray volleyed wide at the far post from a Droylsden free kick, before The Bloods doubled their lead on 31 minutes. Another effort from Gray was blocked, but the ball fell to Shaun Whalley, who beat Aspden with a fine curling effort into the far corner.

From the re-start, Burns tried his luck from distance, but was just wide with his speculative effort.

Sorvel was off target for the hosts, as was Riley for Vics, and Aspden made a great save to deny Gray his second in first half stoppage time.

The expected onslaught came from the Cheshire side at the start of the second half, with Michael Connor steering wide once Meadowcroft had headed a deep corner back across the face of goal.

Spurred on by the sizeable travelling contingent, Vics pulled a goal back when Allan collected a ball up the wing from Elam. Despite looking offside, he drew Howarth and drilled past him from an angle.

Droylsden responded well, though, with Shaun Whalley crossing for Yeo, who glanced his header wide, but Vics came back through the pacey Cayne Hanley, who broke clear of The Bloods' defence, but could only shoot straight at Howarth. Hanley again put pressure on the home goal, but Howarth gathered in at the second attempt.

The game could have gone either way, as both sides continued to create chances with play flowing from end to end. Gray curled an effort just wide of the upright, but Aspden was confident it was off target.

However, on 64 minutes, a slick counter-attack saw Yeo slide the ball in to Whalley, who wrong-footed Aspden with his placed shot inside the opposite post.

Whalley was the denied by Aspden, before Steve Beck made it 4-1 on 71 minutes, beating Aspden from an acute angle after exchanging passes with Gray in the box.

Vics never gave up, though, and Byron almost turned the ball into his own net as the visitors maintained their fight, but Yeo was just wide with a volley at the other end as Vics had to leave themselves exposed in the gamble to reduce the arrears.

Howarth did well to tip over a lofted effort from Connor after a Vics free kick landed at the far post, before Liam Brownhill cut inside to fire straight at Aspden at the other end.

A Lee Roche cross was just too high for Gray, but Droylsden made it 5 on 78 minutes when Paul Brown beat Aspden with a rising drive from the edge of the box.

Even at this late stage, Vics never gave up hope, and Howarth was fortunate to deflect a Connor shot over the bar, with Brownhill having to clear off his own line from the corner kick.

Allan was just unable to find a finishing touch to a low cross by Burns, and Connor stung the palms of Howarth with Riley firing wide from the rebound.

Still looking to make the scoreline more respectable, Hanley shot wide and Simon Grand was just off target with a headed effort, as was Mack Cadwallader.

The game's blot came with seconds remaining, when Droylsden's Steve Pickford was given his marching orders for an alleged head butt.

So, after ringing the changes – some down to injury, others by choice – Dave Pace will be clearly pleased with his team's response to their weekend defeat. Andy Preece and Andy Morrison, however, will be wondering how their side suffered such a heavy defeat on this display, and may have to do some head lifting ahead of the visit of Redditch United.

TEAMS

Droylsden:

Howarth, Roche (Pickford, 80'), Brownhill, Halford (Cryan, 80'), Byron, Sorvel, Beck, Lloyd, Gray, Yeo (Brown P., 75'), Whalley.

Subs not used: Graves, Brown A.

Northwich:

Aspden, Kerr (Winter, 24'), Horrocks, Meadowcroft (Cadwallader, 55'), Grand, Herring (Hanley, 46'), Riley, Connor, Burns, Allan, Elam.

Subs not used: Danks, Spence.

REFEREE: Mr. M. J. Denton (Todmorden, West Yorkshire)

ATTENDANCE: 562