On Saturday Northwich Vics silenced their critics with their most resounding win of the season writes Scott McLeod.

Add to that an impressive personal display by transfer-listed and much maligned winger Darren Vicary and you have the ideal response by the Greens to a small pocket of critical fans who have been calling for the head of players and manager alike in recent weeks.

However, two wins don't make a successful season. And, rest assured, it is unlikely Vics will come up against weaker opposition all campaign.

Farnborough were not only toothless in attack, they committed the cardinal sin for any team facing Northwich Vics, they allowed Wilson's men space and time to run.

To overcome Vics you must crush the life out of them in midfield - Farnborough spectacularly failed to do that, allowing the likes of Steve Walters, Val Owen and Stuart Terry the opportunity to mould the game as they desired.

Once Val Owen opened the scoring on 26 minutes the result was not in doubt. After that strike Vics grew in confidence and, following two quick-fire goals shortly after the interval which confirmed the win, the home team adopted a swagger and poise not seen in previous matches.

Vics started slowly though, the first worthy chance not arriving until the 23rd minute. Darren Vicary received a through ball from Carwyn Williams down the inside right channel, evaded a lunging tackle from Lloyd Wye on the edge of the penalty area and played in a low, teasing cross which keeper, Stuart McKenzie managed to gather at the second attempt as Paul Tait waited to pounce.

Three minutes later and Vics were ahead. Jamie Bates swung in a high cross from the right. It fell to the feet of Val Owen beyond the far post and, despite a terrible first touch which left him having to stretch for the shot, he rifled the ball beyond McKenzie into the corner of the net.

Vicary, who was at the centre of almost everything Vics created in the first half, could have made it two on 34 minutes. Once again, it was a deep cross from Bates which caused the problems, finding Owen in the same spot at the back of the area.

This time he headed the ball back across. Barry Miller was on hand to stab the ball away from goal, but it went only as far as Vicary 12 yards out. His low shot was blocked by Miller with the keeper seemingly beaten.

A minute later and the rejuvenated winger fired a low drive inches wide from the edge of the area.

Vics finally did make it two within two minutes of the second half getting underway.

Another well worked move, it was converted by Paul Tait, who leapt unmarked at the back post to power a header into the opposite corner of the goal from a perfectly flighted Stuart Terry left-wing cross.

Paul Tait was involved again in the 52nd minute. Having received a good pass from Vicary wide on the left, he cut into the penalty area and was preparing to play a cut-back to Carwyn Williams when Miller tugged him down.

Steve Walters converted the penalty that followed with aplomb.

Farnborough's only real sight of goal came on 68 minutes when Phil Wingfield's fierce shot from the left side of the area was saved well by Dean Greygoose. It was the only time he was called into action all day.

At the other end Vics carved out a series of half-chances, seemingly more concerned with passing the ball neatly and impressing the crowd. But it should have been four in the 84th minute when Tait's ideally weighted pass released Williams, whose low shot from the right edge of the area on the run was pushed wide by McKenzie.

For the Vics faithful, it must have been nice to see Val Owen tigerish in midfield, Stuart Terry creative on the flanks and Darren Vicary reliving some of his happier Drill Field performances.

Whether the vein of form will remain long enough to silence the dissenters remains to be seen.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.