Report by Peter Wilson

Saturday 16th Sep 2006Aldershot 1 v 3  Vics  Vics not only recorded their third away win of the season but they did it in style and at the same time scored three goals, and that could have been many more, against a team that had not conceded a single goal in their previous four games.  The Vics manager opted to bring in Senior, McCarthy, Payne and Byrne in an attempt to overcome the recently disappointing home reversal against St Albans. And it has to be said that the format looked more balanced from the start.  Brayson showed an early indication of his current good form by forcing Bull into a save before Payne needed the help of the alert Senior to complete a clearance although Williams still found an opportunity to curl a shot narrowly wide.  A Vics response was immediate and Elliott switched play intelligently to allow Byrne to cut inside from the left and curl a shot marginally wide. Vics were playing with the kind of freedom that has previously been their trademark and after Mayman had worked an opening Brayson lifted a shot over the bar before the same player cleverly made use of a Carr pass to turn his marker only to eventually see his final effort saved at the foot of the post. When the home side did threaten both Charnock and Payne were providing a more than effective barrier and on the stroke of half time Vics deservedly took the lead.  And it was Michael BYRNE  who rightfully claimed the accolades with a clinical finish from 25 yards after he had once again cut inside from the left to leave the home defence floundering.  The second half opened as the first had ended with the home defence appearing constantly vulnerable and with Vics in command.   A second goal duly arrived and BRAYSON had little difficulty in scoring from close range after good work from a rapidly returning to form Carr. An expectancy of any comeback from Aldershot was quickly dismissed by a third Vics goal that was executed by ALLAN  with a well placed header from a pinpoint Mayman cross.  Aldershot did temporarily raise their hopes when WILLIAMS followed up to bundle his own penalty kick over the line following an initial save from Senior after Charnock had scythed Joel Grant to the ground. Yet it was Vics that continued to look the more dangerous and after Byrne lashed a shot against the bar he then cut inside to set up Allan but his shot flashed inches wide.  John Grant missed a late chance to reduce the arrears before the only blemish, on what had been an outstanding performance, occurred at the death. Allan, arguably harshly booked earlier in the game, was given a second seemingly harsh yellow card and therefore ultimately red carded. 

Attendance: 2,588

Man of the Match: Michael Byrne