Saturday 21st October 2006

Stevenage 0 v 2  Vics

An effective combination of tenacity and flair gained Vics three deserved points at an ever decreasingly despondent Broadhall Way.

A frenetic start included a wasted opportunity for Stevenage when Boyd dragged his shot wide when well placed quickly followed by a Vics response that ended with both Carr and Dodds having shots blocked in immediate succession.

Without the services of Battersby, Charnock, McCarthy and long term injury Williams the manager continued with a 3-51 system that has served him so well in recent games and Mayman returned to the team wide on the right as an attacking wing back. Having similar duties down the left Brown was soon forging forward and a half clearance from his probing cross landed invitingly for Mayman to smash a volley inches wide of the target. The Northwich raids continued to carry more venom and an Elliott free kick was followed up by Gallimore for only the slightest of deflections to deny him his first goal for the club. With momentum gathering Vics won a series of corners that were being delivered with a pleasing degree of proficiency by Elliott and Brown and from an Elliott corner kick the referee spotted a foul on Allan and awarded a controversial penalty kick. Skipper ELLIOTT stepped up to make no mistake from the spot.

Stevenage huffed and puffed to little effect and the most worrying event for Vics was the loss of Paul Brayson after 32 minutes with a back strain. And, in fact it, was Vics who came closest to finding the net for a second time before the half time whistle when a pile driver from the ever-industrious Allan was tipped around the post from a fully stretched Julian. Yet again the corner kick caused mayhem in the home defence and Julian appeared to make contact with Townson, who had replaced Brayson, at the foot of the post but the referee chose to book Townson for going to ground rather than award a penalty.

Such had been the ineffectiveness of both a long ball tactic and an inadequacy of the home side in the final third of the field that the game was 54 minutes old before Stevenage mustered their first corner. In keeping with the proverbial Manchester buses there then came two more in very quick succession, but to little or no effect. Defying earlier criticism, Gareth Griffiths marshalled his defence to impressive effect and with the support of all his hard working colleagues Stevenage visibly continued to wilt. A very clever back heel from Dodds almost set up Carr before Vics scored a deserved second and clinching goal. Much of the credit should go to the vision and industry of Townson who cleverly worked an opening down the left channel before pulling the ball back for DODDS to drill a 14-yard shot into the net and score is second goal in consecutive games. Stevenage attempted a form of comeback but by then the game was sealed and they remained unable to test Senior.

Attendance: 1,773