Telford United 2

Northwich Victoria 3

Nationwide Conference

Saturday, April 14

A SCINTILLATING fightback in the final 13 minutes gave Vics the three points their overall play ultimately deserved.

After going 2-0 down with 19 minutes left, a first away win since November seemed a million miles away - but they deserve to stay up just for showing this kind of never-say-die attitude.

It was Graham Lewis who made the real difference, when Keith Alexander replaced defender John Robertson with him and the extra zip he added to the attack culminated in the teenager hitting the 85th minute winner.

It's not that Vics hadn't looked threatening before their late heroics. A combination of goalkeeper Ryan Price and bad finishing preceded Telford's 17th minute opener when skipper Neil Moore rose to head a Kevin Jobling free-kick beyond Lance Key.

Three minutes later Gregg Challender's shot took a wicked deflection inches beyond the post but the first half reached an end Telford began to pose more of a threat.

Chris Malkin headed against the bar and then McGorry's follow up effort hit the underside of the bar before Key handled just outside the penalty area and escaped with a yellow card .

It was 10 minutes into the second half when the substitutions which changed the game were made. Telford replaced their most potent forward Jez Murphy, who had an ankle injury, while Lewis came on for Robertson.

However, the first sub to make an impact was Scott Huckerby, who started and finished a move when he converted a Simon Travis cross to give the home side a two-goal lead.

Alexander responded immediately by adding a fourth forward, Richard Mitchell replacing injured full back Jamie Bates, and Peter Holcroft came on for Challender.

When Vics finally pulled a goal back it was of the highest quality. Mitchell neatly chested down a long ball to Gregg Blundell, who hit a fierce shot from an acute angle into the far corner of the net.

Northwich relentlessly surged forward and from one of many corners, Gary Burke backheaded for centre back partner Gary Talbot to level the scores from four yards.

Rampant Vics weren't finished and when a long kick by Key fell between Lee Fowler and Price, the alert Lewis nipped in between the two to slot the ball into the bottom of the net.

Vics: Key, Bates ( Mitchell 71 ), Barnard, Talbot, Robertson (Lewis 55 ), Burke, Norris, Challender ( Holcroft 71), Blundell, Mike, Devlin. Not used: Walsh, Walling. Attendance: 1,019. Man of the Match: Graham Lewis.