Victory Club 2-3 Grange Park
The Victory Club's unbeaten home record evapourated last weekend but on reflection maybe it should not have.
Manger Steve Jackson rang the changes from the defeat at Guide Post the week before, Alex Rodgers, Simon Mountford and Ben Stores all dropping to the bench with Chris Spence, Greg Davison and Alan Tench replacing them.
The Victory started really well passing the ball in their usual crisp style, this fashioned the opening couple of chances for them but both were squandered horribly by Karl Addison. Shortly after the Victory had another opportunity to score but again they squandered. The chance fell to Scott Hunter but the Vics Midfielder who just can't buy a goal at the moment shanked his shot wide when it looked easier to score.
The Victory finally did open the scoring in a more direct fashion a long direct pass picked out Alan Tench and the Vics marksman took one touch to set himself and another to smash the ball home.
You at your most vulnerable after you just scored at that proved to be the case for the Victory as Grange Park scored with their first attack with a low fizzing drive beyond Lordon. This seemed to galvanise Grange Park who forced a decent stop from Lordon just moments later.
The Victory then claimed for the first of two penalties, this one a marginal decision which was turned down by referee Clayton but to the disbelief of the home crowd and their secretary Davey White (who was incensed).
Half Time
Steve Jackson was quite pleased with the first half display but wanted the Victory to be more clinical - what he didn't expect is what he got; slack defending straight after the restart allowed Grange Park to run straight throught the Victory and slam an absolute pearler beyond Steve Lordon in the Victory goal.
The Vics didn't crumble and Greg Davsion struck the bar with a bullet header, it was proving to be a frustrating morning and it got a whole lot worse as Grange Park with about only their 5th attack of the game scored again, a long spell of possesion (17 passes in total) led to a shot from the right hand side of the area the ball cannoned in off the post into the back of Lordon and then into the net, for an unfortunate own goal.
The Victory continued to try and salvage at least a point and pulled another goal back through Tench after a team move he cooly slotted beyond the on rushing goalkeeper 2-3 Grange Park now. The Victory then forced three more great saves from the Grange Park 'Keeper, and in the dying moments the opportunity to equalise arose but just as Tench broke through one on one to complete his hat trick he was cythed down but to the amazement of both sides Clayton again turned the penalty appeals down - which was disgraceful decision!
The game finished moments later with the Victory aggrieved with the refereeing but also have to blame themselves for wasted opportunites.
