Forthcoming Fixtures

Northwich Victoria FC 0 - 3 MCFC Reserves
Ball(7), McDonald(37),Ball(88)

City went one better than they did against Hyde by scoring the same three goals but keeping a clean sheet at the other end this time. What a difference an off season makes as City's David Ball has found his golden boots again as he scored his second brace in two matches either side of a towering header by captain big Clayton MacDonald; but either player were slightly left outside the limelight as Kasper Schmiechel came off the bench for the final five minutes to play up front as a striker.

City took the lead in the seventh minute, slightly against the run of play but it helped settle City down. City won a free kick on the right about three yards from the corner D; Karl Moore whipped in a near post cross with his left foot and in rushed Ball to time his run perfectly as he glanced a delightful header into the far corner of the goal.

City controlled things for a while but did not really show any real penetration for a while until nearly half an hour in when Scott Kay saw Moore make a run and played a delightful ball over the top of the Vics defence and Karl ran in to the by-line and crossed to where Ball and Abdi Ibrahim were but Abdi headed down a bit too hard and the ball bounced over the bar to the relief of James Coates in the Vics goal.

The Vics closest chance of the first half with ten minutes remaining when a ball was played through to the Vic's Wayne Riley on the right and he got himself around Greg Cunningham and unleashed a fierce shot that went across the goal; but just wide of the far post.

However just two minutes later and City had doubled their lead when Shaleum logan was fouled on the right ten yards over the half way line. Donal McDermott sent in a cross to the far post where Clayton and Dedryck Boyata were lurking; but the Vics defence just managed to clear behind for a corner. Again Donal was supplying the cross, but this time no defender was able to prevent Clayton being the man that rose up to head the ball past Coates.

The second half saw the Vics make some changes and the Andy Preece and Andy Morrison managed club put City under increased pressure with goalkeeper Tobias Johansen being forced to make a few good saves from mainly John Newby and Mike Connor.

As the game came up to the eightieth minute we saw Kasper come out of the tunnel with his boots on after having his trainers on for the whole match. Reserve team manager Glyn Hodges then went to ask Andy Preece something; clearly it was to ask if he was ok if Kasper came on to play up front. The thumbs up were given and on he came to cause problems up front; probably reminiscent of his father's exploits during his career when he used to maraud up the field for set pieces.

Maybe it was that presence that un-nerved the Vics defence as with two minutes remaining they were a bit all over the place and David Ball took advantage as he was being shirt held but still fouled the defender to manufacture some space and turn and fire a great shot into the far corner of the goal.

It just goes to show that clearly Ball has got some confidence over the summer and his eye for goal is back much probably to the annoyance of defenders that will be trying to prevent him scoring whilst he is wearing the light blue of City.

City will be playing some behind the doors reserve friendlies; but their next official fixture is against Wrexham this Saturday where they are apparently charging £10, a rather high amount considering it is a friendly reserve fixture for City.

NVFC: Coates(GK), Kerr, Brown, Bailey, Grand(Capt.), Riley, Horrocks, Nemby, Burns, Connor, Danks.

Subs: Clancey(GK), Meadowcroft, Cadwallader, Herring, Winter, Bryan, Berkley, Farran, Richards, Hanley.


City: T Johansen(GK), Logan, Cunningham, Kay(Poole 65), MacDonald(Capt.),

Botata, Moore, Ibrahim,Ball, Nimely(Marshall), McDermott(Schmeichel)

Sub:Mak
Att: Approx 500.