The Kings Arms 1 - 3 The Victory Club
The relegated Victory Club showed character to become comeback Kings on Sunday and record their first win of the league campaign.
Manager Steve Jackson again had a thread bare squad to pick from and fielded just a bare eleven with no subs for the clash against Kings Arms.
The Victory started sluggishly and had to make several defences clearances to stay in the game. Two in particular were superb from Vics skipper Greg Davison who's excellent sliding tackle denied a certain goal and then he followed up with a great interception to send the ball over the bar when he could have easily put the ball through his own net.
The Victory who had to withstand a barrage of long throws into the box but succumbed to one just after the 20 minute mark. Confusion between Davison and Goalkeeper Swan allowed the Kings Arms to tap the ball in from a couple of yards.
In the past the Victory would have crumbled but in the last few weeks (apart from last week) they took up the initiative and both Alan Tench and Peter Harding agonisingly close for the Victory. Then on the half hour mark a Greg Davison equalised from a free kick inside his own half! This gave the Victory the boost they needed, as Alan Tench broke through the Kings offside trap to force a good save from the 'keeper the Peter Harding's was suspiciously cleared off the line for a corner (when a penalty for handball looked like a more suitable punnishment). It didn't matter though as from the resulting corner the ball was whipped directly into the net from Harding who celebrated his 2nd goal of the season in the process.
Half Time
At half time Jackson called for a big effort and that's exactly what he got.
Just five minutes into the second half the Victory added a third a corner whipped in was cleared at the front post only for Anthony Collins to smash a half volley into the bottom corner of the net from all of twenty yards.
The third goal seemed to stun Kings Arms into life (realising the were losing to the bottom club), they put relentless pressure on the Victory Club goal who stood up to plenty of high balls into the box.
Then the turning point in the game, on 68 minutes a long Kings Arms throw bounced in the box as the Kings Arms forward reacted he ran into Nathan Hudson and a penalty was given by the referee. Hudson was booked for the foul.
The penalty was superbly struck into the top right hand corner only for the taker to see his spot kick amazingly saved by Vics stopper Lewis Swan who turned the ball over the bar.
That seemed to deflate the Kings Arms and spur the Victory home who sensed their first win.
The away side had further chances through Tench and Hunter, to add further gloss to the scoreline but they were squandered.
As the final whistle was blown the Victory were relieved to have won a game, but I think they would have been slightly disappointed they couldn't have played like that more times this season.
The eleven players who took to the field were fantastic but a special mention to Alan Tench who provided a constant attacking threat, the two centre halves Greg Davison and Nathan Hudson who stood up to the high ball threat and Goalkeeper Lewis Swan who made a a crucial penalty save at a vital time!
