Victory Club 2 - 6 Inn Place
A new season of the Sunderland Sunday League got under way at the weekend but a return to competitive action failed to spur the Victory into life.
The visitors' were the much fancied Inn Place, but in the early stages of the game but teams cancelled each other out in the humid conditions.
The opening goal of the match went to Inn Place when a long punt into the box was misjudged by Hudson and the Inn Place forward gambled to smash the ball into the net. The Victory responded well and got their first goal of the season when Rodgers intercepted an Inn Place attack, proceded to take the ball out of the defensive third and spray it to Harding on the right who had a neat interchange with Hunter and then whipped the ball into the box where a neat layoff from Lamb allowed Smiles to place the ball in the corner out of the desperate reach of the 'Keeper. The Victory though weren't on terms for long as Dryden unfortunately, under pressure, sliced a clearance straight into the path of the attacker who scored his second of the game, but also decided to stamp on Victory's 'Keeper Swan's arm in the process, the Victory number one is now a doubt for Tuesday's game vs. Chaplins with heavy bruising.
Half Time
The Victory returned to the field of play in the second half fired up by manager Hermiston and almost got the perfect response as Harding got down the right again crossed the ball only for Lamb, who was stretching and seen the ball late, to send it crashing up off the upright.
That was as good as it got for the Victory in the second period in all honesty as they crumbled under minimal pressure from their opponents and conceded three goals in twelve mintes to kill off any chances of a revival. The third was another long punt into the box not dealt with by any of the back four and the Inn Place attacker had the simple task of heading past Swan to pick up his Hat Trick, the fourth goal was another ball into the box which was failed to be dealt with by the defenders and the Inn Place forward stooped to net his first of the game, although there was more than a hint of offside not spotted by referee Harkness. The fifth goal just summed the day up, Inn Place charged through the middle of Victory midfield headed into the box only for Jonny Lewis to snap the player down from behind although he protested it was quite clearly a penalty. The penalty was despatched and the Victory had crazily gone from 2-1 down to 5-1 down!
The Victory to their credit continued to play football and earned a consolation when Jimmy Smiles was brought down in the box and with Greg Davison away Scott Hunter stepped up to slot home the penalty. Hermiston decided to make three changes with Lee Skelland and Adam Smith making debuts and Simon Mountford also joining them. The sixth goal was the Victory's own fault again as they had possesion with a throw in but gave it away cheaply, the Inn Place winger ran fifty yards unchallenged before knocking it to his team mate who had the simple task of tapping the ball past a helpless Swan.
At the full time whistle it was a case of de ja vu as the Victory were great in possesion but at the moment can't seem to be able to defend and are leaking far to many goals to be competitive in matches. Hermiston needs to get them tightened up as a unit and then the attacking football will do the rest. Next game is on Tuesday away at Chaplins.
Sunderland Sunday League Division 2 Results:
Chesters x1 1 - 5 Chaplins
City FC 0 - 2 Washington Havelock
Hendon Vics 4 - 0 Ropery
Kings Arms 6 - 5 New Derby
Halfway House 2 - 1 Willow Pond
