The Victory Club 1-1 Chesters X1
The Victory's Morning turned from sour to sweet as they battled back to earn their first point since August and in the process notch up double figures in the goal scored column (the last of all four divisions to do so).
Steve Jackson lack of options again made sure that the would be no whole sale changes but Captain Greg Davison pushed on into Midfield with Graham Lamb slotting into the back four. Lewis Swan returned in goal, Simon Mountford was back from injury(?) and veteran Lee Skelland returned to the bench after a ten week lay off.
The game started tight in difficult conditions. The first opportunity fell to Peter Harding and his effort was pushed away by the Chesters goalkeeper. Lone striker Steve Jackson was next to try his luck with his shot going narrowly wide of the post.
Around the 25 minute mark the Victory thought they had taken a well deserved lead Peter Harding whipped a free kick into the box and Vics skipper Greg Davison rose highest to plant the ball beyond the 'keeper, only to his dismay to hear the whistle go for offside even though he was two yards on!
Just after the half hour mark a bizarre incident occured, the Victory won a free kick on the half way line. The Chester's Keeper strangely erected a wall but he needn't have bothered as Harding's free kick sailed harmlessly into his gloves.
Just before the break the Victory had their first scare of the game, a well placed pass disected the Victory backline and the forward used his pace to bare down on goal his shot was brilliantly smoothered by Swan who took the pace off the ball and Rodgers got behind his keeper to cooly chest the ball down and clear the rebound off his goal line to keep the score at nil - nil.
Half Time
At half time Steve Jackson gave his side a pat on the back and encouraged his side to keep going after a solid but not spectacular first half display.
The second half again started with the Victory on top Scott Hunter was starting to cause havoc down the Chesters left and his well worked cross found Simon Mountford who blazed over from fifteen yards. Then Mountford himself had a moment to remember his excellent takle saw the Victory man in possession he then decided to take on three players by just rolling his foot over the ball (Zidane esq), and spray the ball wide to Harding who skinned the right full back and saw his shot go agonisingly wide.
Five minutes later Hunter was at it again getting to the by line and crossing for Davison and his bullet header beat the keeper but not the defender who had retreated on to the goal line to hack the ball clear.
It looked as if the Victory would pay for all those missed chances when Chesters scored from their first attack of the half. Jonny Lewis conceded a nothing free kick which resulted in a deep cross superbly tipped away by Swan but the Victory couldn't get the ball fully away and the rebound cross was headered home by Leon Bennett past the sprawling dive of the Victory keeper.
The Victory though soon found their feet again and Jackson made two changes replacing himself and Jonny Lewis with Ben Stores and Lee Skelland.
As the Victory kept pressing a one off moment occured, Rodgers the bulky Victory left back skinned his much quicker and fitter opponent with a cheeky step over then left him chasing his shadow as his left wing cross was cleared for a throw. From the resulting throw the Victory had two chances as a combination of Stores and Davison brought the ball down and Davison swiveled to see his shot brilliantly tipped onto the post by the keeper, Chesters then hacked the ball to the edge of the box and Anthony Collins then hit a half volley from 25 yards that just went over the bar.
Then the moment everyone of a Victory persuasion had been waiting for A GOAL!, Hunter charged down the Chesters left and won a corner, he then took the corner short to Skelland who gave it back to the winger he then whipped the ball in, flicked on by Lamb it then hit the Victory's twelth man the "Chinaman" in the face and he cushioned it for Greg Davison to ram the ball home from 5 yards and spark wild celebrations from the home support and the Victory players.
The Victory hoped to push on in the remaining 9 minutes but almost came unstuck as some sloppy defending nearly allowed Chesters to nick it but thankfully the attacker fluffed his lines with goal at his mercy and ball fell into the greatful arms of Swan. He then released the ball quickly to Collins who broke over the half way line sprayed it right to Harding who slid the ball into Ben Stores, he then beat the goalkeeper and defender with one pirouette but as he turned the ball fell to his weaker left foot and he shanked the ball agonisingly over from twelve yards much to the despair of Jackson who fell to his knees in dissapointment in the Victory dugout. Although praise has to be given to the quality of the counter attack.
Moments later the full time whistle sounded with the Victory pleased to end the worst run in their history but dissappointed not to make their dominance count for more than a point. Next up is a tough trip to Willow Pond but if the bottom club replicate that performance they may cause one or two shocks before the end of the season.
Division 2 Results; 04/12/2011 Second Division Chaplins FC 2 1 The Halfway House FC Ian Quinn Hendon Vics 2 1 Kings Arms FC Kieran Downey
