New Derby 1 - 0 Victory Club
The Victory Club travelled to local rivals New Derby in the second round of the Solex Manufacturing Cup with a depleted squad, with Rob Timm and Adam Smith absent and Jonny Lewis serving the final game of his ban. That meant manager Rodgers could call upon only 13 players including himself!!
The Victory started the game physically trying to press their opponents and force mistakes but early in the first half they fell behind as Stephen Robson got down the Victory right crossed the ball and Rob Calvert was taken down in the box by Mark Dryden and Ron Alcock pointed to the spot but the decision was a little dubious. From the resulting spot kick Calvert picked himself up only to see it saved by Swan in the Vcitory net but joy was short lived as Martin Hutchinson tucked in the re-bound much to the dissappointment of Vics Gaffer Rodgers who felt they reacted far to slow.
The Victory could have fallen further behind but Calvert screwed the ball over from 8 yards when he really should have scored, then a combination of Swan and Mountford cleared his next chance off the line after he broke clean through.
The Victory finally got going from a set play, Peter Harding swung the ball in and Greg Davison stooped to head the ball only to be denied by a good save from Stothard in the Derby goal. The Victory attacked again down there right hand side and Ryan Fairweather was only a whisker from turning Scott Hunter's cross into the back of the net.
Half Time
The Victory started the second half brightly and tested Stothard on a couple of occasions. Harding the let fly with a fierce drive which grazed the top of the bar. From the resulting goal kick Stothard suffered a knee injury and had to be replaced by the Derby manager Scott Linton. The Victory kept pressing but just couldn't penitrate the resolute Derby backline. The game started to open up and Swan had to be at his best to deny the Derby forwards on several occasions, one an outstanding save at point blank range, from Thompson and was hacked to safety by the Victory defenders on the follow up.
The final fifteen was all Victory and for the first time this season they actually looked like a football team! Mark Dryden struck the bar direct from the corner but it actually was a great save from Linton by all accounts. Shortly after Peter Harding weaved his magic in the middle of the park played a Kaka esk type ball which left Sam Scott's legs tied in knots through to Scott Hunter only for him to blaze the ball over the bar from ten yards much to the anguish of Rodgers and the travelling contigent of three. The Victory huffed and puffed but couldn't get the ball in.
At the final whistle the players looked dejected but can take heart from their performance. Now Rodgers has seen that sort of display from his players he will expect the same every week as he knows what they are capable of.
