Villagers pull off shock win over Northwich

NORTH Ferriby pulled off a tremendous victory to progress to the First Round Proper of this season’s FA Vase.

A 78th minute penalty from Danny East saw the Villagers to a 3-2 victory over Northwich Victoria at the Dransfield Stadium.

Victoria arrived with a big reputation and were one of the favourites, playing an equivalent league higher in the North West, to win the competition.

The opening goal came five minutes from half-time when a great cross field ball from Jamie Forrester found East. He threaded it through to Louis Kirk who weaved his way into the box before a low shot beat Michael Hale at his far post.

It was a bad start to the second half as the Villagers shipped two poor goals from Darryhi Mason and Matthew Birchall to trail 2-1.

Midway through the second half Ferriby made their double change and 10 minutes later they were level.

A superb Ben Leyland long ball saw a point blank header from Scott Phillips well saved but from the resultant corner the ball fell at the striker’s feet and he fired home.

With 78 minutes gone came the winner when Levi Tarbotton went on a rampaging run into the area. He was upended, leaving East to send the keeper the wrong way with the penalty for 3-2.

“It’s a great win, not how we want to win and the goals we gave away were a little bit slack, not to the standards we expect,” said Ferriby Assistant Manager Paul Robson.

“It’s a huge win for the lads and against such a club as Northwich who are a very strong team at their level.

“It shows the character we have at the moment but more importantly it is about the squad we have as we really took the game to them.”