Silksworth Elite 4 - 3 The Victory Club
The Victory Club ended pre season with arguebly one of their worst ever performances.
The club slumped to defeat against Division 3 outfit Silksworth Elite, a side who had previously lost all six of their previous friendlies.
The game started lethargically and the Victory were caught cold on three occasions in the space of eight first half minutes. The first goal was a long punt down field with the defenders deciding to let the ball bounce the Elite player could not believe his luck as he roamed into the box and squared it to a team mate to tap it in to the net. The second goal was just as bad, as Elite charged through the centre of the park they were not even challenged as they sent off a tame long ranging shot which beat the flat footed Rodgers, whose was deputising between the pegs. The third goal wasn't any prettier for the Victory defenders as Elite attackers' charged into the Victory area unchallenged to finish the ball low into the the left hand corner of the net.
The Victory had a few opportunities in the first half and Harding, Hudson and Hunter were all guilty of missing good chances. The Victory however did get one back before the break a good through ball by Collins released Smiles who expertly positioned the ball into the corner of the net out of the reach of the on rushing Goalkeeper.
At haf time Hermiston decided to make a few subs with Rodgers, Hudson, Harding, Hunter all going off to be replaced by Swan, Davison, Stores and Mountford.
It had little effect as the Victory laboured on a warm summer's evening although they struck again when a penalty was given for a unclear offence in the box, and Mr Reliable at penalties Greg Davison stepped up to despatch the spot kick. Hermiston must have thought his team wouldkick into life but the game petered out with changes being made by both sides.
One substitution of note was the introduction of Ryan Fairweather who became the Victory's youngest ever player aged only sixteen.
In the 84th minute disaster struck again as a long punt by Elite's keeper seemed to be heading nowhere but a breakdown in communications between Swan and Hudson allowed Elite forward "Big Dave" to steal in an score his first ever Silksworth goal, something he was delighted with as he wheeled away tothe corner flag to celebrate.
The Victory hadn't fully given up and with three to go Peter Harding scored a free kick and in the last minute Greg Davison missed a chance to steal an unlikely draw with a free kick just over the bar.
At the final whistle no one could deny Silksworth Elite a hard fought win they deserved! For the Victory though it loooked like they had been out fought and out thought with a case of "Square Pegs in Round Holes" in terms of positions and tactics and plenty of work needs to be done between now and Sunday's Division 2 opener against Inn Place, but time dosen't seem to be on the side of Manager Hermiston and his asistant Alan Callaghan to put it right.
