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VICS LOSE CHESHIRE SENIOR CUP FINAL |
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Wednesday, 14 March 2007 |
Tuesday 13th March 2007 - Unibond Cheshire Senior Cup Final
Vics 1 v 3 Cammel Laird
Although this particular tournament may have not been top of this seasons priorities, having reached the final, a more polished performance ought to have been the order of the day.
As it was, Vics were comprehensively beaten on the night.
Doubtless a number of changes to the preferred starting line up did not help the cause but, other than the introduction of Academy defender Reece Conlon, the inclusion of a number of fringe players ought not to have weakened the team so significantly against Unibond Northern Premier opponents who were not at full strength themselves.
Yet that proved to be the case leaving Cammel Laird to dominate proceedings from the off.
They almost took advantage of a nervy start from Conlon who ceded possession on the edge of the box but Senior reacted quickly to deal with the threat. Similar indecision was this time covered by Brown as Cammel Laird seized upon an unconvincing Vics opening. Sheenan shot across the face of goal before former Vics midfielder Jamie McGuire spotted Senior off his goal line and returned a 35 yard shot that bounced agonisingly wide. With Vics consistently second best in midfield Cammel Laird continued to push forward and were desperately unlucky not to open the scoring when an angled Jebb shot was deflected centimetres wide. Such was the West Cheshire club's dominance that it came as little surprise that they opened the scoring in the 31st minute. ADAMSON was able to gain possession down the left and with Vics players backing off he had little difficulty in despatching a shot within the adjacent post. Townson almost provided an immediate response but his efforts again fell short and Cammel Laird quickly cleared to leave MORGAN free of the Vics rearguard and his finish was precise enough to add a second goal. At this stage Cammel Laird were both good value for their two goal advantage and capable of increasing their lead and would have done so had Senior not produced a quality save to turn a Morgan shot over his bar. McGuire was similarly denied at the death of a first half during which some of the fringe Vics’ squad had proved themselves to be embarrassingly inept. Yet they were still able to give a very late taste of what may have lied ahead when Roca did well to work an opening but his shot hit the inside of the post.
Battersby replaced the inexperienced Conlon at the start of the second half before Vics began to show some belated purpose that suggested they may yet get themselves back into the game. Mayman shot wide from a scoring position before Tom Rutter replaced him and for a while the outcome seemed less certain. This was underlined when Roca, who had provided the most potent threat for Vics, slipped a measured pass into the path of BROWN who squeezed a 20-yard shot between the keeper and his post. Expectancies that Vics would take advantage to claw themselves back into the game were quickly dispelled when Dean guided a deflected Townson cross wide of a gaping goal before the previous inadequacies in their approach play again became frustratingly evident. And with time running out Roberts was adjudged to have fouled Taylor as he strove to connect with a right wing cross and McGUIRE stepped up to make no mistake from the spot.
Yes Vics rested key players, Yes there are other significant priorities in the immediate offing....but there has to be serious questions yet again asked about some of the fringe players tonight who were second best to spirited but nevertheless supposedly inferior opponents.
Attendance: 425
Star Man: McCarthy
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 29 June 2008 )
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