Vics come out on top in close encounter

Top goal scorer David Hind was missing today due to holiday, but Vics welcomed back Anthony Tansley and Jamie Pawley in to the line up and Stephen Akers on the bench after his recent hamstring problems. Tom Betteridge also came in at left back for his first start in a month after his recent ankle injury.

Vics played in to the wind in the first half and started the better of the 2 teams with Smyth, Mansfield and Ritchie-Smith causing the Arnold defence problems without creating a clear chance. Arnold did start to come in to the game with their direct play, very hard work rate and good use of long thrown ins and set play delivery which meant Vics defence had to be at their best for the 90 minutes.

Vics were though matching Arnold all over the park with Tansley and Land at the back particularly having to head a lot of balls that Arnold pumped forward, which meant for an even first half. The first chances of the game fell to the Vics forwards, but Smyth and Mansfield couldn't put the chances away.

Arnold also showed their intent when a long ball bounced through and Smith in the Vics goal had to be very alert to make a good save and keep the score 0-0.

The first goal came in favour of Vics and it fell to Smyth who twisted and turned his defender after a mistake to slam the ball home from 12 yards and give Vics the edge.

The game then continued in the same vein with neither team creating a clear chance, but Arnold were getting a lot of corners and they got their equaliser from a corner with the ball being delivered in to the near post and an Arnold player had a free header on to the bar which then bounced down and at the second attempt Cox lashed it home.

Vics will be disappointed with the way the goal was conceded, but this didn't stop them trying to play football and causing the Arnold defence problems and again they got their rewards just before half time with Chris King pouncing on a bouncing ball to chest it down and volley in to give Vics a half time lead.

HT. Arnold Town 1-2 Borrowash Victoria AFC

With the wind behind them in the second half Vics would be hoping to play more of the game in Arnolds half and they started that way creating two good chances to put the game out of Arnolds reach, but couldn't quite get on the end of the crosses.

Arnold then began to force Vics back in to their half and put pressure on the back four without creating a clear cut chance with Leigh, Land, Tansley and Betteridge holding firm.

Vics were always a danger on the break with Ritchie-Smith having a great chance to volley home, but he put his chance over the bar. With a little more care with passes and staying onside Vics may have been able to get the all important third goal, but it wasn't to be and Vics held out firm for the rest of the game with all 11 players putting in a fantastic shift to come away with all three important points at this stage in the season.

FT. Arnold Town FC 1-2 Borrowash Victoria AFC

POM - Tom Land. Was very solid today and won an amazing amount of headers and kept out everything that Arnold threw at the Vics defence.

Team. Smith (c), Leigh, T.Betteridge, Land, Tansley, S.Kellogg, Ritchie-Smith, King, Smyth, J.Mansfield (Baker), Pawley. Subs-Baker, S.Staniland, Riley, Jellyman, Akers

Joint Manager Thom Kellogg reflects on todays victory.

" Arnold played exactly as we thought they would, being very competitive and direct. We have watched them recently so put out a team and prepared the players for the battle we knew they would be involved with today. The whole squad again have been first class today with their attitude and work rate for 90mins.

Tom Land has had his best game for a few weeks and the back four were important today with the amount of balls Arnold played forward. Sam Kellogg and Chris King were very important as there was a lot of second ball in the midfield with little chance to play and they matched Arnold in that department.

With a little more care and quality in the final third we could have put the game to bed early in second half, but obviously we are more than happy with the three points however they come at this stage in the season.

We do though now have to move on to Tuesday and go in to another big game knowing three more points are a must if we are to keep the pressure on Thurnby at the top and keep in front of the teams that are very close behind us."