Tuesday 28th October 2008

FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round

Vics 0 v 3 AFC Telford 3

AFC Telford won this game with disturbing and embarassing ease. Above all else their achievement should be acknowledged and applauded.
However Vics fans had a right to have expected a great deal more from their team. Having gone behind they rarely looked capable of getting back into the game and that is the hardest pill to swallow, never mind that had Tynan not saved a late penalty the result would have been even more unpalatable.

Unconverted half chances at both ends were the prelude to the visitors claiming a vital early lead. A swift break down the right led to a low cross that found the home defence floundering leaving MOORE to bundle over the line despite a desperate attempt from Tynan to claw the ball clear. A catalyst for Vics to gain consistant possession and put their opponents under controlled pressure? Contrarily it only proved to highlight a lack of cohesion and innovation in just about every area of play. And it came as little surprise that the visitors sealed a first half two goal advantage when Tynan conceded a penalty kick leaving BROWN to score from the spot.

Ryan Brown became the first victim of half time recriminations and he was replaced by Benjamin. Little changed and Vics continued to struggle. Byrne replaced Roberts with a hint of a more creative option. Winn hit the side netting and hopes temporarily rose until Telford again broke with embarassing ease allowing MOORE to score from an angled shot. The same player almost duplicated the exercise and was only denied by a deflection that went wide. Grand shot over from a good position before Moore failed to add to Vics further embarassment by having his spot kick saved by Tynan.

Team: 4-4-2
Tynan /
Aspin, Roberts (Byrne 59), Grand, Brown (Benjamin h/t) /
Williams (Mullan 42), Crowell, Welch, Winn /
Allan, Burns /
Subs not used: Jones, Flynn, Farran, Riley
Referee: M. A. Naylor

Man of the Match: Inappropriate to name a single player that ought to take any less communal responsibility for a horrendous team performance