Vics Go Second

Vics travelled to Stapenhill knowing they needed a victory after a poor defeat on Wednesday night against Greenwood Meadows FC. Back in to the squad came Martin Smyth, Tom Betteridge, Chris King, Kane Jellyman and Sam Kellogg who all missed the Greenwood game. Ryan Baker and Dan Riley dropped to the bench with Sam Kellogg, Chris King, Martin Smyth and Kane Jellyman all coming back in to the starting line up. Anthony Tansley was missing due to a foot injury.

Vics played the first half up the slop against a strong wind, but this didn't effect their game as they got the ball down and passed it very well for the first 45 minutes and were unlucky not to have scored at least a couple of goals with Tom Land, Sam Kellogg, Martin Smyth, Chris King, Rob Ritchie-Smith and David Hind all having opportunities to give Vics their rewards, but just couldn't find the net.

As it sometimes goes, if you don't take your chances then the other team punish you and this is exactly what happened with Vics going from being in Stapenhill's half one minute to being 1-0 down as they switched off completely at the back. The ball bounced and Whealdon got his head to the ball to put Hart through who had pulled off Jellyman's shoulder and he advanced to slot the ball easily passed Smith in to the Vics net.

It wasn't what Vics deserved, but if you don't take your chances and switch off then you will get punished. Vics now had to come from behind again which has been a trend over the last few weeks.

HT Stapenhill 1-0 Vics

In the second half Vics had the slop and the wind and played most of the game in Stapenhill's half. Vics were forced to make a half time change with Scott Staniland going off injured and Tom Betteridge coming on and then just 5 minutes in to the half Tom Land was replaced by joint manager Thom Kellogg due to a hamstring problem.

Kellogg's first action of his return was to put in a typically fierce challenge on Whealdon and then take the right wingers head off while winning the ball after the player ducked his head in to the ball.

This certainly got Stapenhill players upset and woke up the Vics players as they went forward and Hind should have scored with his head from another good passing move down the Vics right. Rob Ritchie-Smith put in a pin point cross, but Hind could only head over.

Hind did though make up for this minutes later as another cross from Ritchie-Smith found his head and he scored to get Vics back on level terms.

Only minutes later from a Vics corner Stapenhill cleared and broke quickly with Hart getting in the box and falling over with Ritchie-Smith in close proximity. Then to his amazement the referee pointed to the penalty spot for what look like a very soft decision.

Hart got up and sent Smith the wrong way to put Stapenhill back in front.

This didn't stop Vics passing and the ball and putting the Stapenhill defence under pressure and again the ball was delivered from the right and Martin Smyth pounced to slot the ball home.

Only a few minutes later and Vics finally got there rewards that the football they played deserved with Hind lashing in a strike that the keeper fumbled in to his net to put Vics 3-2 up.

It was a crazy 10-15mins of football, but there was no doubt that Vics had got their rewards for the football they played and they saw out the final period of the game in Stapenhill's half as they had done for most of the game and especially in the second half.

Reward for the victory was to go second in the table.

FT Stapenhill 2-3 Vics

POM - David Leigh - He again put in the great performance going forward and defensively and has struck up a really good partnership with Rob Ritchie-Smith down the right hand side.

Joint Manager Thom Kellogg speaks after todays victory.

" We thoroughly deserved that victory today and again have had to come from behind twice to show the spirit and character that we know is in this squad. We passed the ball very well at times and carved out a lot of chances in the first half especially, but scored all our goals in second half.

It was good to have players back after Greenwood and they have made a difference especially in the final third. Ryan Baker was unlucky to be dropped to the bench today after his performance the other night and so has Dan Riley who has come in and slotted in well in the midfield for us.

It is though a squad game and we picked a squad and team we believed would win the game and that is what we have done with the reward of going second in the table.

We don't have a midweek game which is good as we have had a busy period and it will give us a chance to assess the injuries from today and hopefully get Stephen Akers back in to the squad for next weeks tough game against Arnold Town FC."