VICS final pre-season match restored a great deal of confidence in the side following their previous defeat against Stafford Rangers.

The 1-1 draw with Premier League outfit Birmingham was a fantastic result for Steve Davis' men and showed just how well the team has developed during Davis' three months in charge.

This match was by far Vics best performance of the close season and showed just what the new-look side is capable of.

The game was played at a frantic pace throughout by both teams and, with Birmingham fielding a host of seasoned professionals (including Senegal international Ferdinand Coly), proved to be the ideal preparation for Vics.

And Vics' growing confidence and familiarity with each others play nearly paid off as early as the second minute when new signing Chris Thompson almost latched on to a through ball but was just beaten to it by the onrushing keeper.

For the early part of the match Vics faced mounting pressure from Birmingham and only resolute defending from the solid-looking back line of Kieran Charnock, Phil Brazier, Mark Foran and Lee Woodyatt kept the Blues at bay.

But as the half wore on Vics came more and more into the game and so were shocked when Birmingham managed to take the lead after 35 minutes.

Blues striker Adam Till picked the ball up after a neat flick near the edge of Vics' area and rifled a shot into the far corner of Andy Woods' goal, giving the keeper no chance.

At half time Davis made a few changes, bringing Shaun Came on for Brazier and Chris Blackburn for Owen, to give Vics a new direction.

And the change almost had an immediate effect with Royle lobbing just wide minutes after the break.

After 55 minutes Jonny Allan, who has returned to the club following a lengthy trial with Tranmere Rovers, came on for Chris Ward and had a striking impact on the game.

Just four minutes after arriving on the pitch Allan had levelled the scores with an opportunistic strike which saw him intercept a loose pass from Vaughan before squeezing his shot inside the post.

As the match neared fulltime Vics became more and more dominant and were unlucky not to force a win with Mark Devlin going close with a stunning free kick which was clawed out by the keeper.

VICS: Woods (Connett 64), Charnock, Brazier (Came 45), Foran, Woodyatt, Garvey (Santus 64), Devlin, Owen (Blackburn 45), Royle (Brough 49), Ward (Allan 55), Thompson (Butterworth 64). Attendance: 438. Star man: Mark Foran