19/04/11: Chaplins FC (1) v (2) The Victory Club
Scorers: Harding, Smiles
Team: Swan (GK), Lewis (Stores), Rodgers, Davison (c), Bunyan, Robson, Harding, Lamb (Collins), M. Dryden, Hunter (White), Smiles
Unused Subs: Fisher
Yellows: None
Reds: None
The Victory Club all but secured their place in Division Two for next season as they ran out deserved 2-1 winners against Chaplins.
The Victory made two changes to the side beaten by Southwick two days earlier with Mark Dryden and Jonny Lewis earning starting spots. They replaced the absent, Nathan Hudson while Anth Collins, who dropped to the bench. Simon Mountford was still away in Germany no doubt filling his face with numerous helpings of frankfurters and currywurst.
The Victory enjoyed the better of the early stages, virtually pinning Chaplins in their own half. However, despite a flurry of corners Lee Hermiston’s men didn’t really test the Chaplins keeper.
It took until the fifteenth minute for the games first real chance. A headed flick on by Scott Hunter put James Smiles clear but the Victory striker’s touch was a little heavy and the Chaplins keeper was quickly off his line to smother the ball at Smiles’ feet.
The reprieve for Chaplins didn’t last long though because just as the first half reached its midway point the Victory took a thoroughly deserved lead. Captain, Greg Davison, received the ball from a throw in just inside the opposition half. He took a touch, looked up and sprayed a brilliant cross field ball towards the far post where Peter Harding, having ghosted in behind his marker, skilfully guided a right foot volley past the keeper and into the back of the net.
The Victory twice almost doubled their advantage shortly afterwards. Smiles was denied by a great last ditch tackle from a Chaplins defender after he galloped onto another excellent ball by Davison. Then, when the Victory did have the ball in the Chaplins net for a second time, Graham Lamb saw his headed effort from Harding’s cross ruled out for offside by referee Colin Archibold. With TV cameras not present at this game it was unclear whether that decision was a correct one or not but Lamb certainly thought he was onside.
Chaplins had their first shot on goal just after the half hour mark but Swan made a good save to tip a looping effort from twenty yards over his own crossbar.
Then, with five minutes of the first half remaining, Chaplins were handed a lifeline as they were awarded a penalty when the referee deemed Stephen Robson to have pushed a Chaplins player in the back as he jumped to head clear a free kick. It was an incredibly harsh decision from the official as not only did the contact look minimal but not a single Chaplins player even appealed for a penalty. Thankfully though justice was done as from the resulting spot kick Swan made himself a hero when he dived full length to his right to push the penalty round the post. That penalty save from Swan ensured that the Victory went into the break with their noses still in front.
Chaplins started the second half with more purpose no doubt having been given a half time rollicking by their manager but they still struggled to threaten the Victory goal.
Ten minutes into the second period and Lee Hermiston was forced into making his first substitution. Graham Lamb had been unable to shrug off the effects of a knock he picked up in the first half so was replaced by Anth Collins.
A couple of minutes after the alteration and the Victory almost went two goals clear but Alex Rodgers looping header from James Smiles’ corner hit the cross bar before being smuggled away to safety.
Scott Hunter then had two opportunities in quick succession. The first one was a decent effort from range with his right foot which brought a smart save out of the Chaplins keeper. The less said about his second attempt the better. After a neat one-two with Smiles, Hunter elected to try his luck with a first time shot but sadly it resembled more of a bac kpass than it did a strike on goal. There is no question that Hunter is presently suffering from a severe lack of confidence in front of goal but much like Fernando Torres all he needs is a goal for all that to change.
Disaster struck for the Victory with twenty five minutes remaining as Chaplins equalised. A trademark deliberate handball by Rodgers gifted Chaplins a free kick about thirty yards from goal. When the set piece was delivered into the box a Chaplins player got in front of his marker and glanced a header past a helpless Swan and into the far corner of the net. It was a hammer blow for the Victory who had looked more than comfortable up until that point.
In response to Chaplins levelling proceedings, Lee Hermiston made a double change bringing on David White and Ben Stores for Scott Hunter and Jonny Lewis, who had been struggling with a combination of cramp and a calf injury in the few minutes leading up to the Chaplins goal.
Both teams pushed for a second goal in the final fifteen minutes pretty sure in the knowledge that in all likelihood whoever did score next would win the game.
With nine minutes left the next goal did come and thankfully from a Victory point of view it went there way. There seemed to be little on when Smiles received a pass from Anth Collins around twenty five yards from goal but how wrong that proved to be. Smiles cleverly outfoxed his marker, leaving him on the floor in the process, before rifling an unstoppable right foot shot which flew past the stunned Chaplains keeper and nestled in the top right hand corner of the net. It was a goal right out of the top drawer and if ever a goal warranted winning a match that was it. Smiles’ strike is unquestionably now the leading contender for the Victory goal of the season award and in all probability it is the best goal that the Victory striker has ever scored in his eleven a side career.
The action didn’t end there though as the goal stung Chaplins into action once more. Almost immediately they went down the other end of the pitch and forced a corner. From the corner, Anth Collins was well placed to clear a header off the line using his chest. Chaplins appealed loudly for handball in the hope of winning another penalty but this time the referee was well placed to wave away the desperate appeals.
Alex Rodgers was forced to play the final few minutes with a nasty looking eye injury after he was elbowed in the face off the ball. The referee missed the incident but did show concern for Rodgers whose eye instantly swelled up and closed meaning he finished the match virtually only being able to see out of one eye.
At the final whistle the Victory players and touchline were left to celebrate a crucial win which all but guarantees their survival in Division Two for another season. With a rare Sunday without a match the men in red do not return to action until Thursday 28th when they make the short trip to The Duck to play the formidable Southwick FC for the second time in a fortnight.
