Oxford United 0 Northwich Vics 1

THE Great Northwich Vics Revival swept up the Blue Square Premier League’s biggest club on Saturday.

They thoroughly deserved their latest win, albeit with the help of a sending off.

Oxford being reduced to 10 men with Vics a goal to the good was a controversial and fortunate twist in their comeback campaign.

Former Lincoln City defender Luke Foster was the man dismissed for a second bookable offence in the 57th minute for a second bookable offence, though whether his challenge on Jamie Mullan merited dismissal is another matter.

But Oxford had to reshuffle and were consequently unsettled allowing Northwich, with one or two minor scares, to see out the double over their hosts.

Vics were also presented with their goal. Goalkeeper Bill Turley fielded a loose ball and somehow let it slip, which proved a perfect invitation for Lee Steele to unhesitatingly add to his tally into an unguarded goal from the edge of the box.

Conditions were bad and got worse throughout the game, spoiling any chance of a showpiece.

Not that sporting entertainment was on Vics mind. Three points were all that mattered and with the aid of a good Ben Connett save from Mike Howard they took their reward, even threatening to increase their lead.

Turley made some amends by saving from Ryan Brown while Steele headed the wrong of a post.

Superbly marshalled by Mike Welch, the Vics defence easily held out for a win more comfortable than they ever imagined.

The upshot of Steele’s ninth goal in eight games was to put Vics within three points of survival, not bad for a team that did not win at all until November 24 and spent nearly four months on the bottom.

Mark Roberts, who was with Vics last season before controversially opting to join Accrington Stanley in the summer, played his first game on a loan deal until the end of the season and Dave Brown, on the same terms from the same club, made his bow as a substitute.

Vics: Connett; Welch, Belle, Roberts; Mullan, Crowell, Byrom, Byrne (Carr 77), R Brown; Stamp (D Brown 81), Steele (Burns 88).

Att: 4,673