THE first home game of the new season for Northwich Vics was a genuine thriller.

It was the club's 1,000th Conference league match and came on the back of a successful 500th Conference away game at Forest Green Rovers.

To mark the occasion, league chairman Bill King and Kenny Jones - who captained Vics in their first Conference game and was the club's longest serving player with more than 900 appearances - were presented to the players before kick-off.

But despite the landmark, Vics manager Steve Davis was approaching the fixture like any other game and was looking for a tight performance all round.

In an open and entertaining first half, both teams had their share of chances.

Within six minutes, Jonny Allan - who signed with Vics on Thursday after a trial at Tranmere Rovers - was on the end of a free kick from Steve Garvey and despite being unmarked, shot across the face of goal, missing a golden chance.

Moments later, Chris Thompson forced the Scarborough keeper into a good save. In the 16th minute, Mark Hotte got onto the end of a corner, only to see his header go narrowly over the Northwich bar.

And when Michael Price was booked for a challenge on Thompson, Garvey's free kick forced Nat Redmile to make a diving header from the face of his own goal.

Scarborough broke through in the 41st minute, when substitute Chris Senior made a byline pass into the path of Wayne Gill at the penalty spot, who shot low and inside the post.

But controversy ruled at the end of the first half, as Scarborough's Scott Kear was sent off for a strong foul on Val Owen.

Vics went into the second half in search of an equaliser against 10 men and dominated the play.

Efforts from Lee Woodyatt early on failed to hit the net and Chris Ward was brought on for Woodyatt to step up the attack.

Vics continued to apply the pressure, but they left it until the death to find the net.

On 88 minutes, Chris Blackburn's attempt to land an overhead kick inside the box misfired, but when the ball subsequently landed at the feet of Ward, he buried it from six yards out.

The match ended a draw and Vics have now taken two points from their first two fixtures of the season.

l FOR more Vics action, see page 102 - and see next week's Guardian for a special souvenir of the 1,000th Conference league clash.

Team: Woods, Woodyatt (Ward 63), Brazier, Foran, Royle, Owen (Brough 73), Blackburn, Devlin, Garvey, Allan, Thompson. Subs not used: Connett, Came, Charnock. Attendance: 854. Star man: Brazier.