31/10/10: The Victory Club (3) v (3) Jollies
Scorers: Fisher 2, Stores
Team: Swan (GK), Hudson, Bunyan, Davison (c), Robson, Fisher, Collins, Hermiston, Smiles, Harding, Stores
Unused Subs: None
Yellows: None
Reds: None
A spirited late fight back from an under strength Victory Club helped the side snatch a 3-3 draw against Jollies, a result which brought a much needed end to the teams five game losing streak.
With the Tyne Wear derby taking place at half one, the Victory found themselves without six regulars who were forced to miss the match as they had to make their way through to St James’ Park early to take their places in the Sunderland end. Paul Bunyan (ankle) and Peter Harding (shoulder) both passed fitness tests to play but Scott Hunter missed out through illness. Caretaker managers, Alex Rodgers and David White, turned up briefly to announce the side and gatecrash the team’s Football Echo photo, before leaving. The team selection was an easy one given there were only eleven players available and the management duo elected to stick with a 4-5-1 formation. New signing Chris Fisher, started on the right of the five man midfield while there was also a first start for Lee Hermiston, who was signed only a couple of days earlier on an emergency one game loan deal.
The Victory had hoped to kick off the game early, to be away in plenty time for the derby, but referee Fatai Balogun, sporting an interesting winter headband, messed around and in the end the game only began a matter of minutes earlier than the normall 10.30 Sunday League start time.
On the day which Halloween is celebrated the Victory got off to a horror start as they found themselves behind inside the first thirty seconds. A long ball forward played between Stephen Robson and Greg Davison saw Robson hesitate when attempting to decide how to deal with it. This proved fatal as it allowed a Jollies player to nip in and make his way to the dead ball line. From there he pulled the ball back to his unmarked team-mate who was stood on the edge of the six yard box and he made no mistake in slotting the ball past a helpless Swan. Omega watches, official timing partners of the Sunday League, timed the goal at 24 seconds. No question it was the worst possible start for the men in red.
Despite the concession of such an early goal, the Victory refused to let their heads drop and they enjoyed the better of the play after the goal but without really creating any clear cut chances. Jollies on the other hand seemed intent on using long ball tactics but the Victory backline dealt comfortably with everything that was thrown at them.
Jollies almost extended their advantage just shy of the twenty minute mark when the Victory failed to clear a long throw in properly but the effort from just outside the edge of the penalty area was comfortably saved by Swan.
Then, on twenty five minutes, the Victory hauled themselves level as new signing, Chris Fisher, marked his debut with a goal. A long ball forward saw Ben Stores and his marker chase after it. The Jollies goalkeeper seemed to react late in coming off his line to collect it and then with Stores and the defender bearing down on him confusion ensued. The keeper and defender collided and the ball ran loose for Stores. He stabbed the ball across the box where Fisher was completely unmarked and he, despite falling backwards, swept the ball into the empty net. The goal was no more than the Victory Club deserved for their endeavour since going behind so early.
The Victory continued to press and James Smiles’ effort from range only just cleared the top of the Jollies crossbar.
Against the run of play and with just under ten minutes of the first half remaining, Jollies regained the lead. Once again a long throw in was not dealt with properly and the ball found its way out to the Jollies centre half who was just outside the right edge of the box. He attempted to cross the ball back into the area but unfortunately for the Victory his cross ended up resulting in a goal as it sailed straight over everyone, including Swan, and nestled in the far corner of the net. It was a goal not too dissimilar to the fourth goal the Inn Place scored last week.
That was how things remained at the break and without any managerial presence on the sideline the eleven players were left to chat amongst themselves about what went wrong in the first half and how to put things right.
Jollies came out all fired up at the beginning of the second period and launched into a few wild challenges. One player was correctly cautioned for one particularly dangerous challenge. However, they almost added to their lead with a spectacular effort from distance but the ball clipped the outside of the post on its way wide.
With fifty seven minutes on the watch, Jollies gave themselves a two goal cushion when they took advantage of the first clear sight on goal of the second half. A loose ball in the Victory area broke kindly for a Jollies player and despite three Victory defenders diving at his feet he scuffed his effort into the bottom corner of the net.
A couple of minutes later and Jollies almost made it 4-1 when one of their forwards ghosted in behind the static defence but Swan thankfully was alert and made an excellent save to keep out the strikers glancing header.
The game almost descended into a mass brawl as the game reached the midway point of the second half. A typically robust challenge from Victory midfielder, Anth Collins, left a Jollies player rolling around in agony on the floor. The Jollies players and touchline all took exception to Collins’ tackle and immediately ran over to confront him. Collins, backed up by the majority of his team mates, stood his ground. Referee, Mr Balogun, intervened to break up any trouble before any fights had the chance to break out and pulled the Victory player to one side to have a quiet word.
Shortly afterwards and Jollies were almost gifted a fourth and potentially decisive goal thanks to a defensive error from Bunyan. His poor touch allowed the Jollies forward to have a clear run on goal but Bunyan showed excellent speed of recovery to get back and slide tackle the ball away to safety just as the attacker was shaping to shoot.
With just over a quarter of an hour remaining, the Victory brains trust for the game of Bunyan and Davison, elected to move Chris Fisher from the right wing to go and join Ben Stores up front.
The move paid instant dividends as within a matter of moments, Fisher had notched both his and the teams second of the game. Jollies only succeeded in heading a Davison long throw in back out to the Victory skipper and he drilled in a left footed cross to the back post where Fisher was stood all on his own to tap it in. There was a real sense now that the Victory could push on and grab another goal which would earn them a share of the spoils.
As the game entered the final ten minutes another tactical alteration was made with Robson moving up into midfield and the Victory going three at the back.
Once again it proved to be an inspired decision as with six minutes left Robson played a big part in the Victory’s equaliser. A loose ball broke to Robson and his cross/shot found its way to Stores who rifled the ball home from around twelve yards out. It was a clinical finish and one that Stores’ idol Big John Parkin would have been proud of. Before Stores had the chance to celebrate his second goal of the season he was mobbed by the majority of his team-mates who clearly appreciated the value of his strike.
Jollies were shell shocked at having thrown away a seemingly comfortable lead and their frustrations boiled over in the last minute when they were reduced to ten men. The Jollies centre half decided to exact his own retribution on Collins for his tackle earlier in the half by lunging in on the Victory player and getting nowhere near the ball. Referee Balogun had no hesitation in brandishing the red card and sending the player on his way.
That was to be the last meaningful action of the game as moments later the final whistle sounded bringing to an end an entertaining game which had seen both teams have to settle for a share of the spoils. No question though the Victory will have been the happier of the two sides having battled back from being two goals adrift with only fifteen minutes remaining. Next week sees the Victory Club play a rare game away from the Fulwell Mill Arena as they travel to King Georges to face Oddies. With all the players that missed this game set to be available to return, team selection for next week’s encounter promises to be an interesting one. It’s fair to say no-one would envy the decisions that Rodgers and White are faced with making.
