Northwich Victoria

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Northwich Victoria 0 Fleetwood Town 3

Fleetwood Town headed to third spot in the Blue Square North thanks to a Sean Clancy first-half hat trick.

Northwich Victoria had little to offer in return as Town eased to a convincing victory. Northwich weren't helped when they were reduced to ten men when leading scorer Mark Danks received a double yellow card surrounding the same second half incident.

On paper, the game had the potential to derail Fleetwood's Christmas campaign before it started but the quality displayed by the visitors stole the show.

The win marked the return to league football following last week's FA Trophy action and manager Micky Mellon made three changes to the side who beat Chester City last Friday.

Adam Warlow was partnered by Gareth Seddon - the first time the pair have started together - as Nick Rogan moved to the bench. Michael Taylor regained his centre half spot from Nathan Pond after being rested at the Deva Stadium to avoid a yellow card which would have see him miss the Boxing Day trip to Southport. Steven Connors swapped his placed on the bench as he started ahead of Jamie Milligan.

The visitors were first to show in front of goal when a defensive error allowed Warlow a half chance but the effort ended high over the bar. Seddon kept up the pressure and went clean through the Northwich defence but a last gasp tackle gave Town a corner.

Clancy's first of the night came from a long throw by right-back Shaun Beeley. The ball was flicked on and the midfielder's quick strike nestled into the bottom right corner from 15 yards.

The goal scorer then found himself on the wrong end of an ugly challenge by two-time Fleetwood transfer target Simon Grand. The Northwich skipper received a dressing down from the referee but escaped a caution. Keeper Craig Dootson took Town's free-kick and Seddon latched on but sliced out.

Northwich then placed a free-kick over the Fleetwood wall but Dootson safely gathered. The Vics did cause a few issues for Fleetwood early in the game but not enough to muster an equaliser.

The second came on 33 minutes when Warlow paced in behind the home defence, turned smartly and supplied from the left byline. The inch perfect ball meant Clancy didn't need break stride to increase Town's, and his own, tally to two goals.

The lively midfielder should have snatched his third soon after if not for the right-hand post. Like Friday's only goal, Warlow was first to pounce on the loose ball, but couldn't fire home through a packed line.

The hat trick did come after 37 minutes. A superb ball from Seddon found Warlow who this time raced to the other by line. The striker supplied across the face of goal and again into the oncoming Clancy's path,

The Fleetwood back line once more impressed with Steve McNulty forcefully heading a late first half corner to safety,

Mark Danks fired wide just before the break in one of the few forward moves by Northwich.

An early second half Fleetwood free-kick was swung in by veteran Alan Wright and Jamie Mullan was cropped going for the ball. Jamie McGuire sent this delivery into the area but Michael Taylor's header glanced over the top corner. Another Town free-kick came when Mullan was again rattled, and resulted in a throw which McGuire headed over.

Northwich had little fight to offer but a free-kick called Dootson into a top drawer tip over.

Clancy felt the effects of a slight groin strain picked up in Monday's training session and was replaced by Steven Torpey as a precaution.

The Northwich misery continued when Danks was dismissed for his double yellow cards in a matter of moments. Kicking the ball away earned the first card and foolishly applauding the referees decision resulted in the second caution.

The Vics received 6 yellows in consecutive games and this triggers action from the Football Conference after tallying 6 in their last outing against Gloucester City. Not to deprive the visitors, Seddon was awarded a yellow card in an odd series of events. First he was flattened, play continued and Milligan - on for Warlow - was then penalised. Seddon went to talk to the referee as the free kick was being teed-up but was cautioned for not retreating from the ball.

A worrying moment came just after the mid point when Michael Connor and Lee Herring collided in their own half. The club doctor and both sets of physio's attended the Northwich pair. Connor continued but Herring needed six stitches and was replaced. After the game, Northwich sportingly praised the quick reaction by Shaun Beeley to muster assistance to the prone pair.

It's a measure of Micky Mellon's strong expectations that he wasn't satisfied with his side's impact during the second half despite being three goals to the good by the break.

"Sean Clancy is full of confidence but came off with a groin strain. By that point, we had our best five passers of the ball on the pitch and we should have taken better command of the game. That's just us wanting to be better as a football team. The result was fantastic but we have high standards at Fleetwood Town. We demand players perform to a certain level and I don't think we finished the game in that way. That's takes nothing away from the terrific result."

Town's third place berth keeps them 9 points behind leaders Southport, but with two games in hand. Action returns to Highbury this Saturday when Stafford Rangers are the visitors for the 3pm kick-off.