Saturday 11th November 2006

Brighton 8  v  0 Vics

It was January 1969 when Vics were last humiliated by an 8 goal mauling, and at least they managed to grab a goal of their own on that sombre occasion,(Johnny Leigh against Altrincham at Moss Lane after which Noel Kelly was relieved of his duties).

On this occasion Steve Burr will almost certainly characteristically bounce back with a solution to his sides ever present defensive frailties that were so cruelly exposed by an in form and ruthless Brighton team.

Three minutes into the game and the Vics defence froze leaving Robinson a run at goal that ended with a shot deflected narrowly wide. Vics attempted to apply pressure of their own but Brighton broke swiftly from a Vics corner kick and with the Vics rearguard floundering COX found it all too easy to break and gather a Hammond pass and curl a shot beyond the exposed Senior. Cox smacked a shot against the cross bar and moments later an alarmingly non-plussed Vics conceded a second when ROBINSON surged unchallenged past 3 immobile Vics defenders to score with ease.

Vics attempted to rally but lacked real conviction while the home side seemed happy to await the opportunity for a further predatory strike. And that almost transpired when Revell shot wide of a gaping goal after having gotten the wrong side of Payne from a left wing cross. Yet Brayson may well have made the second half a more tightly contested affair had he not headed a Mayman cross, weakly wide of the target..

As it was Brighton looked likely to score every time they moved forward and Revell again went close directly after the break. This finally seemed to sting Vics into some much needed aggression and after Kuipers had to be at his best to save a Bastians free kick Carr was desperately unlucky to have a shot deflected against the outside of the post with the keeper beaten. Yet with Vics enjoying their best spell the home side again produced a quality break of both speed and precision to expose the vulnerable Vics rearguard once more allowing ROBINSON to net a third and effectively open the floodgates.