31/03/11: Hendon Vics (3) v (1) The Victory Club
Scorer: Hermiston
Team: Swan (GK), Mountford, Hudson, Bunyan (c), Rodgers, Robson, Harding, Collins, White, Hermiston, Stores
Unused Subs: None
Yellows: Collins
Reds: None
A second half comeback fired Hendon Vics to a 3-1 win – their tenth league win in a row – but they were made to fight all the way by a depleted but spirited Victory outfit.
The Victory went into the game without seven squad members who were unavailable due to a variety of reasons ranging from work to playing five a side football. This meant that the Victory had only the required eleven players and that was including manager, Lee Hermiston, who was forced to don his boots to make a second appearance of the season. Hermiston took his place on the left of a four man midfield which also consisted of Anth Collins, David White and Peter Harding while Ben Stores was named as the lone striker. In a surprising move, the Victory employed a five man defence with Stephen Robson and Simon Mountford playing as the two full backs with Alex Rodgers, Nathan Hudson and captain for the day, Paul Bunyan, the three centre halves. Lewis Swan remained in goal.
The Victory struggled in the early stages no doubt trying to adapt to their new formation and they were indebted to Bunyan for making a crucial last ditch tackle as the Hendon Vics centre forward was about to pull the trigger.
As the first half wore on the Victory started to come into the game a bit more but both sides were struggling to create any clear cut goal scoring opportunities.
Hendon Vics seemed determined to try their luck from range but Swan was able to watch the majority of attempts sail wide of his goal and the few that were on target he dealt with routinely.
Then as the first half reached its midway point, the Victory took a shock lead. There seemed to be no danger when Lee Hermiston picked the ball up just inside his own half and launched the ball forward. However, as the ball soared through the air the wind got hold of it and carried it further towards the Hendon Vics goal. The Vics keeper came out to collect the ball but got his bearings completely wrong and he could only watch in horror as the ball bounced over his head and bobbled into the back of the net. Hermiston was understandably delighted at having made a significant contribution to his side and performed a jig of delight in front of the travelling hoard of Victory supporters on the away touchline. Some morning newspapers have likened the goal to that scored by Nayim for Real Zaragoza against Arsenal in the 1995 Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup Final.
The Victory buoyed by their goal started to enjoy a spell of possession in the opposition half and both Peter Harding and Ben Stores weren’t too far away with efforts from just outside the edge of the box.
Hendon Vics were still looking threatening in the final third however, but the Victory backline were defending like Trojans, scrapping for every ball and heading away anything that came near their box. Hendon almost scored from a long throw-in but the players headed effort comfortably cleared Swan’s crossbar.
With around ten minutes of the first half remaining, the Victory almost went two up. A Peter Harding corner was swung into the box where it was met by the head of Nathan Hudson. The ball flew goal wards before being cleared by a Hendon Vics defender on the goal line. The Victory players in and around the six yard box all went up in arms claiming a goal but in fairness even if the ball had gone over the line, which it may well have done, referee James Simpson made the right call as there is no way he could have given the goal from where he was stood.
Just before half time, Simpson, finally lost patience with Anth Collins, who after about his fourth foul was cautioned for persistent infringement. That was the midfielder’s seventh yellow card of the season which must surely now mean a suspension is coming his way.
At the break, the eleven Victory warriors got a well earned breather and could be more than satisfied with their efforts in the opening period.
Hendon Vics almost got off to a flyer at the beginning of the second half but Swan made a save right out of the top draw. A shot from just outside the box took a wicked deflection off Bunyan’s left shoulder but Swan, who was initially headed in the opposite direction, plunged low to his left and clawed the ball round the post.
The reprieve was to be short lived for the Victory however, as with the second half ten minutes old Hendon Vics levelled proceedings. Again Hendon Vics tried their luck from range but this time the ball took a wicked bounce right in front of Swan and the Victory keeper could only fumble the ball out to another Hendon Vics player, who was following in and he slammed home the loose ball at the near post.
The goal seemed to really pump up the Hendon Vics players and they streamed forward with the Victory, kicking against the wind, struggling to make it out of their own half.
Still they stood firm though and the referee made another good decision when Bunyan’s tackle on the Hendon Vics forward in the penalty area was deemed to be a good one. The Hendon Vics players and touchline all screamed for a spot kick but it was clear that Bunyan had won the ball.
Then, with just over twenty minutes, the Victory’s hearts were broken as Hendon Vics took the lead. If ever a goal deserved to win a game then it was this one. Any left footed player will have admired the strike by the Hendon Vics full back. A corner was delivered into the Victory area where it was headed clear by Hudson. It appeared as though the danger had gone but the Hendon left back had other ideas. He brought the ball down on the left edge of the box and fired a screamer of a left footed half volley right into the top right hand corner. The contrast in emotions was there for all to see as the ball nestled in the top corner – the Victory players were visibly deflated by the concession of the goal whilst the Hendon Vics players and touchline were going wild.
A couple of minutes later and Hendon all but made the game safe when they made it 3-1. As so often has been the case this season the Victory’s set piece frailties were exposed as a Vics player was allowed a free header at the back post and he bulleted a header past Swan from no more than eight yards.
In response to going two goals behind the Victory reverted to a 4-4-2 formation in an attempt to salvage something from the game. While this move gave the side more of a presence in the attacking third it also meant they were more exposed at the back. Hendon Vics tried to exploit this with some quick passing football but Swan, who was having an excellent game, made a couple of good saves to prevent Vics adding to their tally.
The Victory continued to fight and with ten minutes remaining they had a chance to reduce the deficit back to one. Good work on the right by Ben Stores saw him cross the ball to Stephen Robson, who nipped in front of the dodgy Vics keeper and laid the ball back to Hermiston who was stationed on the edge of the area. Sadly though Hermiston slashed at the ball and sliced his shot well wide of the target.
The men in green almost finished the game minus Anth Collins who can count himself fortunate not to have been sent off. After committing about his tenth foul of the game the referee summoned Collins and his captain over to him and said that anymore and he would have no option than to produce a second yellow card which would automatically be followed by a red.
Thankfully, the Victory man didn’t do anything stupid in the last seven minutes and Hendon Vics contented themselves with playing keep ball and seeing out the remainder of the game.
While the result may not have been what Lee Hermiston hoped for from his team there can be no question that he will have been delighted with the effort and application shown by all eleven players. The Victory must now look to take this into Sunday’s game against Sunderland Athletic at Hylton Road. With the majority of the seven players who were missing tonight sure to be available on Sunday, Hermiston faces a selection headache over the next couple of days as he attempts to settle on his starting line for that match.
