Northwich Vics 1 Aldershot 2

A NEW look for the New Year almost brought Vics a surprise point on Saturday.

By the time the second half kicked off only three men that had started the season were on the pitch and it was not long before all five of Dino Maamria’s new signings were in the fray.

Of those full back Mike Bowler, from Stockport County, was overall the most impressive. But when Joel Byrom dropped back into midfield from attack he too looked the part - and he scored a cracking goal.

In the second half Keith Barker (St Patrick’s Athletic) and Aaron Burns (United of Manchester) gave them a new partnership up front - and Burns could have saved defeat.

New man number five was Cain Hanley (also United of Manchester) was also introduced from the bench.

Only Northwich’s trio of Michaels - Welch, Byrne and Carr remained, after Richard Battersby’s withdrawal.

And Vics, down 2-0 after 48 minutes and seemingly outclassed, made an unexpected fight of it, after they switched from 4-4-2 and 3-5-2 to county Aldershot’s midfield supremacy.

The visitors took the lead in 36 minutes when Lewis Chalmers played a brilliant ball forward from the half-way line that left Kirk Hudson suddenly goalside and unmarked as if the defence had not even seen him.

He lifted the ball over Scott Tynan was 15 yards.

As befits the league leaders there was a cutting flow about the Shots and they had crowd pleasers in Hudson and Joel Grant.

It was the latter who increased the lead from close range after Anthony Straker and Jonny Dixon had cut the ball first one way and then the other across the box.

In 74 minutes Bowler’s long throw into the penalty area came out to Byrom who let fly and the ball zipped through a crowded area past Nikki Bull in the Aldershot goal.

Minutes later Natt Kerr’s pass gave Carr a chance but his finish was high.

One time Vics striker John Grant clipped the bar off Scott Tynan’s fingers was Aldershot tried to reassert themselves but the last chance of the game could have saved Northwich, Burns having two bites at the cherry. His first shot was weak and his second wayward.

VICS: Tynan; Bowler, Kerr, Welch, Battersby (Burns 45); Williams, Carr, Byrne, Morning (Hanley 73); Akins (Baker 45), Byrom.

Att: 871