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Vics win 2 - 0 against Crawley |
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Written by Peter Wilson
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Saturday, 15 March 2008 |
Saturday 15th March 2008
Vics 2 (Stamp 52 Steele 54)
Crawley 0
In direct contrast to their previous game Vics' exhibited a commitment that eventually earned a just reward.
The manager opted for a 3-5-2 system that meant Meadowcroft was given an opportunity in the back three at the expense of Bowler.
On a pitch that would not have been out of place in the desert areas of Egypt, more sand than grass, any first half action was, at best, sporadic. So much so that it was 32 minutes before either keeper was asked to deal with any more than the mundane.
Then Bayes was called upon to produce a quality save to turn a Steele shot around the post. From the resultant corner Walsh headed barely 12 inches over the bar. A temporary lift in the pace of the game saw Belle booked for a clumsy challenge and then Tynan produce a competent save to keep out a firmly hit Bulman free kick. A cleverly threaded pass from Steele set up Brown but after his initial shot was blocked by keeper Bayes the Vics wing back failed to take full advantage of the rebound.
Jamie Mullan replaced Carr at the break. Otherwise the second half began as mundanely as the first but eventually sprang to life when STAMP delicately guided a right wing cross into the corner of the net. A galvanised Vics surged forward and Brown determingly kept possession to set up Mullan whose left foot strike cleared the bar. Stamp then turned provider to lay a pass into the path of the advancing STEELE who executed a trademark finish. Belle blocked out a shot on goal and Vics broke through Mullan who set up Byrne but his shot fizzed narrowly over the bar. The most entertaining passage of play throughout the game was underlined by an escape for Vics that resulted in Carayol scooping a right wing cross wide of a vacant and gaping goal. A trilogy of errors involving Meadowcroft and Belle saw a shot rebound off the Vics post before frenzied attempts at clearing were deflected towards the home goal and eventually cleared from the home goal line. This action appeared to confirm the fate of a game that Vics had ground out the maximum points that their resolutoin deserved.
Team: 3-5-2
Tynan /
Meadowcroft, Belle, Walsh /
Byrne (Crowell 71), Carr (Mullan h/t), Wilson, Byrom, Brown /
Stamp, Steele (Burns 86) /
Subs not used: Bowler & Horrocks
Referee: D. Webb
Attend: 585
Man of the Match: Lee Steele
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 30 March 2008 )
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