Northwich Vics 3

Stevenage Borough 3

Nationwide Conference

Saturday, October 23

Report by NICK SMITH

LANCE Key isn't famed for the extreme antics which have made last week's stand-in Bruce Grobbelaar famous, but he also made a late mistake which resulted in Vics drawing a game they should have wrapped up.

Key uncharacteristically spilled a weak injury-time shot from Ryan Kirby at the feet of Carl Alford, who gleefully swept the ball in from six yards.

This goal was Alford's 12th of the season, his 11th having come 18 minutes from time to inspire a Stevenage fightback from 3-1 down.

This had looked highly unlikely when, on the hour, young Gary Fletcher appeared to have put the result beyond doubt. Borough keeper Chris Taylor blocked Val Owen's drive and Fletcher rolled in the rebound for his first goal for the club.

But a high-scoring draw was always on the cards in this match right from the first whistle.

Flying winger Darren Vicary was like a greyhound out of the traps as he sped into the area after just 10 seconds. He was matched stride for stride by Taylor, however, who smothered the ball at his feet.

After Key kicked a near-post corner off the line and Michael Love was inches wide with a volley, Northwich raced to the other end and took the lead on 17 minutes.

Colin West was brought down on the edge of the area and Neil Ellis despatched the free-kick with his deadly left foot.

Six minutes later it was two. Val Owen controlled a Vicary cross and steered in his sixth goal in seven games.

Not for the last time, Vics' vulnerability from corners was exposed on 34 minutes when Robin Trott, who scored Stevenage's winner in the corresponding fixture last season, headed in.

Manager Mark Gardiner steadied the ship in midfield when he introduced himself on 53 minutes, but Alford, last season's Conference top scorer, was ready to sink it again after Fletcher's strike.

He rose to head another Love corner into the net and the ex-Witton striker's late winner showed the instinct which once commanded an £85,000 fee.

There was still time for Vicary to find himself clear of the defence on two more occasions. One effort was blocked by Taylor, and on the other occasion he was closed down by a defender and shot wide.

Vics: Key, Birch, Bates, Simpson, Robertson, Owen (Robinson, 68 mins), Ellis (Gardiner, 53 mins), Walters, West, Fletcher (Prendergast, 86 mins), Vicary. Subs not used: Crookes, Gann.

Referee: M Atkinson (Leeds).

Attendance: 1,010.

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