NORTHWICH Victoria pooped FC United of Manchester’s FA Cup party, ending their guests’ dream of a place in the first round.

The hosts’ victory, swelled by two goals in the last five minutes, was no less convincing for their tardy arrival as the Rebels simply ran in to better opponents.

It did not quieten their travelling army though.

Vics did not silence the visitors’ support even after Mark Danks had coolly converted from the penalty spot on the hour.

It took Adam Tong’s own goal four minutes from time to do that.

More than 2,500 were there to see it – the second largest attendance to watch Northwich play at the ground they have called home since 2005.

But for the first half at least, the football did not befit the occasion.

Vics could, and should, have ended the contest inside the first quarter hour.

Carlos Roca, a starter in Vics’ FA Cup third round date with Sunderland back in January 2006, dragged an early shot wide to sound a warning.

It was heeded.

Danks, scorer in each of Vics’ previous two victories in this season’s competition, was through on goal in the next attack only for Rebels’ shot-stopper Sam Ashton to smother his shot.

Jonny Allan was next so see the whites of the keeper’s eyes after Lee Elam had carved open United’s fragile backline, but his finish was hurried. And weak.

Manager Andy Preece looked skywards in wonder.

The visitors successfully starved Vics of meaningful possession after that, only Elam’s deflected shot into the side netting and Michael Connor’s wayward header from the resulting corner were noteworthy attempts on goal.

Jerome Wright, whose wonder goal accounted for Stalybridge Celtic in the previous round, carried sporadic threat at the other end.

It did not translate into shots that forced Curtis Aspden into action.

The second half served up infinitely better fare.

Danks stretched his season tally in the FA Cup to nine when scoring from the spot on 57 minutes after Rebels captain Dave Chadwick had ended Elam’s run – started by a glorious one-two with Allan – on goal with a rash lunge.

He did not argue with referee David Coote’s decision.

The encounter’s pivotal moment followed seven minutes later.

Ben Deegan freed himself from the shackles of Simon Grand for long enough to tee up Wright who, eight yards from goal, saw his goalbound shot tipped over by Aspden.

It was a save as brilliant as it was crucial.

FC United’s resistance lowered a little after that.

Aspden’s huge kick bounced clear of the visitors’ defence on 65 minutes to allow Danks a run on goal, but again Ashton saved smartly.

At the other Deegan skimmed a header the wrong side of the upright from Wright’s curving free kick.

Vics fluffed another chance to see of Karl Marginson’s men on 75 minutes, but that man Ashton diverted sub Jon Newby’s shot wide after he had scampered clear.

United scored the goal their opponents craved.

Danks skipped past Adam Carden down the left four minutes from time, his teasing cross too tempting for Tong not to intercept.

But his touch simply scooped the ball past a stranded Ashton.

Tong then headed over from point blank range at the other end from Phil Marsh’s corner, but by the FC United knew their FA Cup run was at an end.

Another sub, teenager Wayne Riley, swelled the score when he smashed in Newby’s smart centre after the ex-Liverpool front runner had again ghosted through a gaping hole in the Rebels’ now shattered defence.

Vics Aspden (GK), Aspin, Bailey, Grand, Ryan Brown, Connor (Riley 79), Herring, D’Laryea, Elam (Newby 72), Allan, Danks (Vaughan 88)
Subs not used Spencer (GK), Kerr, Winter, Edwards
Goal Danks 57 (penalty), Tong 85 (own goal), Riley (90 +3)
Booked Brown, Grand, Elam, Danks (all fouls)

FC United Ashton (GK), Adam Carden, Tong, Chadwick, Garner (Yoffe 76), Roca, Moses (Simon Carden 72), Cottrell, Wright, Deegan (Ibrahim 81), Marsh
Subs not used Shenton (GK), Nugent, Swirad, Mack
Booked Deegan (dissent), Cottrell (foul)

Referee David Coote (Nottinghamshire)
Attendance 2, 615