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Saturday, 09 December 2006 |
Vics 0 v 1 Weymouth
An insipid, lacklustre performance left Vics to ponder over a third consecutive league defeat. And it has to be said that in many ways they were the architects of their own downfall. Having gifted the visitors a "soft" goal from their first real attack of the game they went on to waste an opportunity to get back into the game just before the break when Felix Bastians failed to convert a penalty kick.
Things had looked so different during the opening passage of play when Vics created several half chances before Roca ran at the visitors rearguard but when the defence opened up his final shot lacked real power leaving Downer to execute a comfortable save. Moments later Weymouth broke down the right and Tully floated a cross toward goal that Senior, albeit under pressure from a Weymouth forward, ought to have dealt with comfortably. Instead, he dropped the cross and, despite the best efforts of Greg Young to clear, SMITH was on hand to drill a shot from 12 yards into the bottom corner of the net. All too familiarly having gone a goal down Vics lost their rhythm and then their confidence. Weymouth looked to capitalise and after Purser had cleverly held the ball up for Weatherstone his 20-yard shot was not far from adding to their lead. Nade then missed the target from 8 yards with what was effectively a free header as keeper and defenders alike stood ball watching. Carr produced an increasingly rare save from Downer with a spectacular overhead kick from a Battersby free kick. Senior made an important save to deny Elam from 25 yards before Vics were thrown a lifeline when Allan went down inside the box as he tried to squeeze between two defenders, the referee without hesitation pointed to the spot. Teenager Felix Bastians stepped up to try and improve Vics recent woeful record from penalty kicks. Alas, he fared no better than his predecessors as Downer deflected the kick against the underside of the bar and, as Bastians tried to follow up, the ball was eventually scrambled clear.
Hopes of a turnaround in fortunes after the break were quickly dispelled and once Brayson had blazed an opportunity over the bar after having been set clear by Roca things just got worse. Lacking conviction and invention they were unable to pose a single threat and it was Weymouth who came nearest to scoring when El Khoti got down the left and delivered a cross that flashed across the face of the Vics goal begging for a final touch. As it was the game plummeted into a niggling affair and after Weymouth had three players booked Challis committed a rash and dangerous challenge on Brayson that earned him an early bath. Despite having the advantage of an extra player for the final 15 minutes Vics failed to ask a serious single question of the Weymouth keeper. And it was well into stoppage time before Carr directed a close range header over the bar ending any lingering hopes of rescuing a point.
On a day when few players could take any credit from the game, the performances of Michael Carr, Greg Young and Richard Battersby, re-installed at right back, provided some scant consolation.
Attendance: 874
Man of the Match: Michael Carr
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 29 June 2008 )
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