Saturday 19th April 2008
Vics 1 (Carr 90)
Grays Athetic 0

Despite two previous commendable performances in Devon, there remained little doubt that todays game was a must win scenario. That was bound to be complicated by the loss of skipper Michael Welch and his partner at the heart of the defence, Cortez Belle, through suspension.

Yet Vics looked far from inhibited by their losses and quickly took control and Michael Byrne twice failed to make the most of the opportunities available to him by initially underhitting a cross to available colleagues in front of goal and then ballooning a shot over the bar after Mullan had done well to create the opening. Moments later the Gray's first choice keeper was stretchered from the field of play after he had fell awkwardly under a challenge from inside his area. Rather than depress the opponents it galvanised them into action and a slick five man move ended with Goulding having a shot deflected over the bar before Goulding lifted a shot over the bar from the edge of the box. Goulding was again presented with the best opportunity of the game when he was left free on goal but, despite drawing Tynan successfully, he shot wide of the goal At the other end keeper Eyre raced from his goal to physically clash with Mullan around the edge of the penalty area and that was almost capitalised upon but Steele headed the return ball wide of the target.

As the game progressed a deadlock looked the more likely outcome. Vics had spurned the loss of first choice defenders Welch and Belle, but Meadowcroft and Kerr had deputised superbly while Roberts had yet again shown himself to be a both quality and influential defender. With the benefit of this assured backbone the manager was able to create alternative options that looked to ask further questions of the Grays defence.

And after David Brown had shot onto the roof of the net, the managers switch was rewarded with a very late goal. Tynan had been called upon to make a quality save to deny Scott Taylor before a long ball from the Vics defence was only partially cleared and CARR intuitevily moved forward to smash the winning goal into the roof of the net and in doing so remarkably scored his first goal of the season.

Vics had secured the points to ensure that there was more drama ahead before their final destination would be confirmed.

Team: 3-5-2
Meadowcroft, Kerr, Roberts /
Mullan (Williams 65), Crowell (Carr 71), Byrne (Burns 71), Byrom, R. Brown /
D. Brown, Steele /
Subs not used: Connett & Bowler
Referee: M. Matadar
Attendance: 769
Man of the Match: Dave Meadowcroft