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Written by Peter Wilson
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Tuesday, 24 April 2007 |
RUSHDEN (0)1
Woodhouse 62
VICS (0)0
Att 1,533.
Life sometimes throws up surprises and after the efforts of the team in the last 3 weeks one didn't expect too much at Rushden tonight. However, what we got was a rattling good game between two teams with nothing to gain or lose except pride and one where Vics deserved better than to lose.
Steve Burr stayed with Saturday's line up with the exception of Barwick starting and Shaw on the bench.
Charnock was quick to block an Albrighton shot after only 3 mins and on 10 mins it was Senior who did well to parry a Williams shot from within the box and then see Barwick complete the clearance at the expense of a corner. With Rushden pressing Dean was then called into action to head clear from under the bar after the corner was headed back across the box and Rankine shot.
After this Vics began to settle and a good 4 man move saw Roca force Baker into a save and a couple of minutes later Byrne set up a chance for Townson which produced a better save.low down to Baker's left. Senior then saved at the second attempt from Rankine as both sides continued to play good football on an excellent surface. Byrne was booked for a foul and Roca for arguing the point after 31 mins. Both sides then had chances in ther last few minutes of the half. Savage surged forward on 38 mins and fired in an excellent shot that just went wide and Dean immediately replied in the next move winning the ball on the right and playing it right across the field into the path of Roca whose shot needed 2 attempts to save from Baker. Right on the stroke of half time the best chance fell to Rankine again when he went clear on the right, cut in and shot. Senior appeared to have it but the ball squirmed out of his grasp and rolled slowly and tantalisingly close to the post and out for a corner. A good first half for Vics who showed lots of enthusiasm and teamwork.
Rushden were quick off the mark in the second half and Battersby did well to block a close range Tomlin effort. We struggled to clear 2 successive corners but when we did Rocs went down the left played it to Brown who crossed for Townson who headed into the side netting when he, perhaps, should have done better. Roberts then headed down a corner only to see Smart scoop his shot just over he bar. With play moving from end to end Tomlin then saw his shot blocked on to the roof the net. Back to the other end and keeper Baker came for a back pass but kicked it straight to Dean 40 yds out and his lob saw Baker having to scramble back to take it just under the bar. On the hour Townson shot narrowly wide but then came the game's only goal. A throw on the right was crossed to the far side where an excellent volley from Woodhouse, 25yds out, bounced just beyond the diving Senior and went in the corner. On 68 mins Chris Williams made his return from his broken leg coming on for Roca who had had a good game and could have won the game with steadier finishing. With 10 mins left Senior tipped a Hope free kick over. The last 10 mins belonged to Vics. First Townson went down the middle, played it to Williams who, after such a lengthy lay off, could be forgiven for shooting straight at Baker when 9 months ago he would have scored easily. Another cross into the box saw panic in the home defence and Smart saw his shot saved wonderfully by Baker. Still Vics found the energy for one last surge and in injury time Baker made another great save from Byrne.
In many ways the result didn't matter as the travelling fans saw a game and a performance we didn't dare to expect. Lots of positives - Williams return, a more mature performance from Dean and a more effective one from Roca. In what was an excellent team display the man of the match was Battersby, despite his last minute yellow card.
Dean (Shaw 77) Townson
Brown Roca (Williams 68)Barwick Smart Byrne
Charnock Roberts Battersby
Senior
Subs not used Connett, Rutter
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 29 June 2008 )
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