23/01/11: The Victory Club (6) v (2) Washington F Pit FC
Scorers: Hudson, Lamb 3, Smiles 2
Team: Rodgers (GK), Hudson, Bunyan, Davison (c), M. Dryden, Collins (Lewis), Lamb, Mountford (Stores), Jackson (White), Harding, Smiles
Unused Subs: None
Yellows: Collins
Reds: None
The Victory Club began 2011 on a high note as they recorded up their first win since mid September thanks to a 6-2 thumping of Division Two basement boys, Washington F Pit.
With new manager, Lee Hermiston, still celebrating in Blackpool following Sunderland’s win there on Saturday, Alex Rodgers stepped into the managerial breach for one final time. The team selection proved to be a tricky one as the Victory found themselves without injured duo Scott Hunter and Lewis Swan whilst Stephen Robson was needed to supervise Sunday morning operations in Wilkinson’s. Chris Fisher was also missing - banned due to an outstanding issue regarding the players insurance. Rodgers, no doubt having been in consultation with Hermiston, announced a 4-2-3-1 formation with he himself replacing Swan in goal. The first choice back four remained in place with midfield enforcers Graham Lamb and Anth Collins providing added protection just in front of them. Steve Jackson was charged with providing midfield support for lone striker James Smiles, while Peter Harding and Simon Mountford were deployed on the wings.
The Victory started brightly and were the better team in the early stages, enjoying most of the possession; however, they were struggling to create any decent shooting opportunities.
Then with nine minutes on the watch and virtually their first effort on goal the Victory took the lead. The F Pit right back conceded a corner and from the resulting dead ball delivery by Harding, Nathan Hudson rose at the far post and headed the ball home to notch his first ever goal for the team.
Buoyed by going ahead the Victory continued to push forward but poor ution of final passes meant they were restricted to efforts from range although Smiles went reasonably close with a well hit 25 yard strike which whistled past the post.
Then, some ten minutes after the Victory’s opener and against the run of play, Washington F Pit repeated the Victory’s trick by scoring with their first attempt on goal. A long throw in was flicked on into the middle of the box to a F Pit forward who in turn headed the ball goal wards and it looped over Rodgers and into the back of the net.
The men in red could and should have hit back immediately though but Simon Mountford was only able to steer his header wide from eight yards out. It was an incredible miss and one which only the man himself will know how he managed it! Mountford’s embarrassment was shared at the other end by Bunyan a minute later when he got nutmegged on the edge of the box by F Pit’s tricky forward and supposed Bunyan lookalike, Manu.
The F Pit reprieve didn’t last long as a little over five minutes later and the Victory deservedly regained the lead with a goal right out of the Stoke City training manual. Long throw specialist, Greg Davison, launched a throw in into the box and the ball soared over everyone who was congregated at the near post towards the far post where, Graham Lamb had made a late run round the back to slide the ball in from almost on the goal line.
Lamb had further reason to celebrate as the game reached the half hour mark as he grabbed his second goal of the game. A perfectly weighted through ball by Smiles set the Victory midfielder through on goal. Lamb’s first effort was straight at the keeper but when the ball rebounded straight back to him he made no mistake tapping the ball into the net with his left foot.
Anth Collins, was proving to be his usual tenacious self in the middle of the park making a series of crunching challenges – some of which were fair some of which certainly weren’t! After being pulled up for about his fourth foul of the game the referee decided he had had enough and elected to caution the midfielder for persistent fouling.
Six minutes before the break and the Victory went three goals clear when Smiles, having assisted Lamb’s second goal, got himself on the score sheet. Collins won a 50-50 just inside the opposition half and knocked the ball wide to Smiles who was stationed on the left wing. In a blink of an eye the Victory forward beat his man and cut inside before rifling an unstoppable shot into the top right hand corner of the net, leaving the keeper clutching at thin air as the ball scorched past him.
At half time the Victory found themselves in the unusual position of being ahead and comfortable in a game but knew that they had to retain focus to ensure they completed the job in the second half.
The second half began quietly with the Victory seemingly content to sit on their lead and knock the ball around. F Pit meanwhile, were struggling to string more than three passes together.
Just before the hour mark and the second half sprang into life when the Victory were awarded a penalty. A long ball over the top by Steve Jackson saw Smiles gallop clear. He reached the ball a split second before the keeper but could only loft his effort on goal over the bar. However, the goalie who had haired out of goal was unable to stop and caught Smiles. The Victory forward went down like he had been shot and speculation was rife that he had taken a dive but replays later showed that although contact was minimal the keeper had indeed brushed his studs along the Victory player’s knee – leaving a little graze which certainly wouldn’t have needed any medical attention. Referee, Jeff Thompson, without the need of technology, had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Usual penalty taker, Davision, did the noble thing in allowing Lamb to take the penalty as he sought to score his first ever 11-a-side career hat-trick and the man of the moment didn’t disappoint, clinically stroking the ball into the bottom left hand corner.
With the Victory now 5-1 to the good, Anth Collins was withdrawn, if only to make sure that he didn’t pick up a needless second yellow card which would have meant a red. Jonny Lewis came on in his place.
A couple of minutes after the substitution and Simon Mountford almost scored a goal of the season contender when he hit a right foot volley on the turn which was screaming towards the top left hand corner before the keeper ruined things by throwing up his left hand and tipping the ball over the bar. It was an excellent effort from the Victory’s stand in right winger, and one which the watching Scott Hunter should take note of given the usual weak shooting displays that he comes up with when he plays in that same position.
Shortly afterwards and with twenty four minutes remaining, the Victory went 6-2 in front. Smiles, now miraculously recovered from the graze to his knee, tackled the F Pit centre back and sprinted clear. As he reached the penalty area he took aim and fired, walloping a tracer bullet of a shot past the helpless keeper and into the back of the net.
A double change followed shortly after the goal with David White and Ben Stores coming on for Steve Jackson and Simon Mountford.
Stores almost had an immediate impact when he took a ball down on the edge of the area but he was only able to skew his right footed shot wide of the left hand upright.
Washington F Pit kept plugging away and they were rewarded with just over ten minutes remaining when they grabbed a consolation goal to make the score a slightly more respectable 6-2. The ball dropped to the F Pit right back on the edge of the box and he strode onto the loose ball and rifled a quite magnificent right footed half volley past Rodgers and into the top left hand corner. It was right out of the top drawer and unquestionably the goal of the game as well as being in all likelihood the best goal that the scorer will ever get.
In the final stages the game petered out although there was still time for Bunyan to make his own entertainment - producing a crude tackle from behind that was fortunate to escape a caution.
At the final whistle the Victory players were left to soak up that unfamiliar winning feeling. Despite, the below par opposition, every Victory player could be pleased with their displays knowing that they contributed to the side picking up the much needed three points. F Pit gave man of the match to Anth Collins but on this occasion the opposition’s decision was overruled and hat-trick hero Graham Lamb picked up the award beating the competition by a nose. The Victory have an unwanted week off next week after the fixture computers left them without a game but the team will no doubt still be in a buoyant mood in a fortnights time when Chaplins FC visit the Fulwell Mill Arena.
