This game had the potential to derail Town's Christmas campaign but their quality was clear to see against a side who finished the match with ten men after Mark Danks received two yellowcards in quick succession.

Town manager Micky Mellon made three changes to the side which beat Chester City in the FA Trophy last Friday. Top scorer 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 centrehalf spot (and the captaincy) from Nathan Pond after being rested at the Deva Stadium in case he picked up a fifth yellowcardwhichwould have seen him miss the Boxing Day trip to Southport.

Steven Connors started, meaning Jamie Milligan was back on the bench.

The visitors were first to show in front of goalwhen a defensive error allowedWarlow a half-chance but he shot high over the bar.

Clancy's first arrived on ten minutes froma long throw by right-back Shaun Beeley. The ball was flicked on to the midfielder, whose strike nestled in the bottom right corner from 15 yards.

The scorer then found himself on the wrong end of an ugly challenge by Fleetwood transfer target Simon Grand.

The Northwich skipper received a dressing down from the referee but escaped a caution.

Keeper Craig Dootson took the freekick which Seddon latched on to but sliced wide.

Vics did posed some early problems, with Dootson safely gathering one freekick, but could not muster an equaliser.

The second came on 33 minutes, when Warlow outpaced the defence, turned smartly and cut the ball back from the left bye-line for Clancy to fire home without breaking his stride.

The lively midfielder needed only four more minutes to complete his hattrick, but could have done so even sooner had his shot not struck Jamie Spencer's right post, with Warlow almost capitalising on the rebound.

But when Warlow raced on to Seddon's pass, he steered the ball across the face of goal into the oncoming Clancy's path.

The Fleetwood defence impressed again, and a drive wide by Danks was one of fewthreateningmoves fromthe home side before the break.

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

Townlooked for more after the break, Taylor glancing a header over from a free-kick by Jamie McGuire, who was close with a heading opportunity of his own from a throw-in.

Hat-trick hero Clancy felt the effects of a groin strain he picked up in training on Monday and was replaced by Steven Torpey as a precaution.

A Northwich free-kick tested Dootson, who produced a top-drawer tip over, but the home side's misery was completedwhen Danks was dismissed for two yellowcards in a matter of moments.

Kicking the ball away earned him the first, then he foolishly applauded the referee's decision to receive his marching orders.

Vics have collected six yellows in two games, triggering action fromthe Football Conference.

Seddon received a caution himself following an odd sequence of events.

First he was flattened but as play continued Milligan – on for Warlow – was penalised. Seddon went to talk to the referee as the free-kick was being teedup and was booked for not retreating from the ball.

Aworrying moment for the crowd of 489 came just after the mid-point of the second half, when Vics' Michael Connor and Lee Herring collided in their own half.

Both clubs' doctor and physio attended the Northwich pair.Connor continued but Herring needed stitches and was replaced.

It's a measure of Micky Mellon's expectations that he was disappointed his side didn't build on their lead in the second half.

Mellon said: "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 performto a certain level and I don't think we finished the gamein thatway. That's takes nothing away from the terrific result."

The win stretched Town's unbeaten league run to eight, and they have kept the opposition goalless in five of their last six games.

Town team: Dootson, Beeley, Wright, Taylor (c), McNulty, McGuire, Clancy (Torpey), Connor, Seddon, Warlow (Milligan), Jamie Mullan; subs not used: Pond, Wilde, Rogan