Report by Peter Tonge

A BITTY start to the match punctuated by the whistle of the referee forced a scrappy first ten minutes or so.

Whitchurch earned a free kick about 25 yards out after 11 minutes, which Jacob Farleigh smashed straight into the wall which stood firm but for some unknown reason, another free kick was given.

This time, Alex Hughes beat the wall and produced a fine save from Mike Hale, who managed to also block Farleigh's follow-up effort.

For the second match running, Vics were forced into an early change as Brad Lynch came on for the injured Brandon Barski.

Vics' first effort came in the 20th minute as Ashley Dunn got on the end of a Darrhyl Mason header but fired his effort well wide.

In the 27th minute, another free kick to Whitchurch resulted in a great save, with Hale pushing the ball onto the post and away.

Vics were slowly improving now and came close to taking the lead when a last-ditch touch denied Saul Henderson a tap-in after Mason put the ball across.

More good football involving Mason and Lynch ended with the latter forcing Lewis Dutton in the Whitchurch net into a fine save low down.

Whitchurch had the final chance of the first half as Farleigh squeezed a cross across the box into Joseph Howell but his shot was inches wide.

Vics came out for the second half looking far more positive and after 49 minutes they earned a corner from which an acrobatic overhead kick from Mason clanged the underside of the bar and the ball was hoofed away.

They weren't to be denied though and took the lead five minutes later as Matty Birchall fed Lynch one-on-one with Dutton and he coolly slotted the ball past the keeper.

Vics now had their tails up and just four minutes later, Birchall forced Dutton into an excellent save as he tipped a dipping effort around the post.

It took just five more minutes for Vics – and Lynch – to double their tally as he found space and time just outside the area, turned and curled a powerful strike into the top corner of the net.

A beautiful goal well worth watching – the Goal of the Season contest is already shaping up to be a cracker!

Vics were well on top now and should have extended their lead after 69 minutes as the ball found its way to Birchall at the far post but he miscued his effort wide.

More good work from Lynch and Birchall led to the latter laying the ball in to Louis Potts, who should have done better than firing over the bar.

Whitchurch were reduced to the sporadic raid by now but Hale had to be alert when Jud Ellis evaded his man and he did well to tip the ball around the post.

Henderson crashed a shot just past the post and Mason just failed to find the bottom corner of the net as Vics dominated the final ten minutes and easily held out to gain their third victory of the week.