Victory Club 1 - 3 Ashbrooke S.C.
The Victory Club again succumbed to defeat but not before putting in an extremely hard fought display against high flying Ashbrooke.
The Victory were forced into one change Rob Timm replacing the injured Ryan Fairweather on the left wing.
The Victory started extremely brightly knocking the ball about at will, the first cahnce came when Rob Timm broke down the left hand side played a neat interchange with Peter Harding who's shot skimmed the bar on the way over. The Victory almost scored again an excellent tackle on halfway by Anthony Collins sent Harding scurrying away with the ball he played it into Steve Jackson who swivelled and forced an excellent save from the keeper.
The Victory from that chance had five consecutive corners but were unable to penetrate a resolute Ashbrooke backline.
An unsual moment then occured as Rob Timm seemed to just nudge the goalkeeper but after initially taking the blow he dropped to his knees like a "bag of hammers". The Keeper continued to half time but did not appear for the second period
But when your Bottom your luck always seems to be out and the Victory were hit with a sucker punch just after the half hour mark, the Ashbrooke winger was given to much time and his cross aluded Mountford straight to the Ashbrooke forward who headed beyond the helpless Swan.
The Victory though have recently found new resolve and an unsual long ball for them seen Peter Harding charge through only to be upended in the box and Ken Short ahd no hesitation pointing to the spot. In the aftermath an Ashbrooke player was sent off foul and abusive language. Greg Davison stepped up and cooly slotted the Penalty home he is now the Clubs top scorer even though he is a centre back!
The Victory pressed on but were unable to find a second goal.
Half Time
Adam Smith replaced Rob Timm at half time and the change proved to be positive at first as Smith teased the Ashbrooke defenders winning free kicks and when they could not stop him illegally he forced to decent saves out of the sub keeper.
Scott Hunter (who was excellent all game) then broke down the right crossed the ball in superbly only for Stve Jackson to agonisingly head over from eight yards.
Ashbrooke despite only having ten men were getting stronger and on a couple of occasions should have scored another ball to the back post was not dealt with but unlike the first half the forward got it wrong and headed over the bar. Then a testing long range strike was driven in only to be held by Swan.
Then the Victory who were tiring broke through Smith and his jinking run and shot skimmed the post when every one of a red persuassion thought it was nestleling in the far corner!
The Victory were made to pay twenty minutes from time when Ashbrooke broke down the Victory left only for it to be well defended by the defenders but extroadingly the clearance hit an Ashbrooke player, fell directly to one of his teammates and he shanked it off his shin high into the net past Swan who had no chance but it was a cruel blow for the Victory who never properly recovered.
The Victory were given an opportunity to get back in it and Smith's free kick was well saved by the keeper who was having a decent game.
Ashbrooke got a third as the Victory pushed on, Ashbrooke punted the ball high and the tiring defenders could not catch the forward on the break and he slammed the ball past Swan.
On the final whistle the Victory players looked dejected but they are creating chances and were unfortuanate not to have claimed a point their perfomance deserved! If they keep playing like that and work on fitness then i'm sure the will beat the drop come May.
Results Second Division Chesters X1 FC 6 0 The Halfway House FC Micheal Crowe Washington River Bar FC 6 2 The Guide Post Fatai Balogun
