Tuesday 14th October 2008

Setanta Shield Round 2

Stafford 3 v 1 Vics

Another ignoble cup defeat was the cruel reward for those Vics fans that had taken the trouble to travel to Stafford. Marsh opted to rest a handful of first choice regulars and included loanee Peter Winn in the starting line up and named former Rochdale trialist Ben Wharton on the bench.

Familiar defensive frailties soon reared their head and indifferent defending by Roberts allowed McNIVEN to score, albeit with the aid of a deflection off the hapless Vics defender. And it was again Roberts who was guilty of ceding possession in a vulnerable position allowing Rangers to break and, despite the intervention of Welch, it was McNIVEN who was again on hand to punish his former club.

Vics introduced Ben Wharton for Benjamin at the start of the second half and Vics showed more determination leading to ALLAN reducing the arrears. Yet that barely flattered to deceive and PHILLIPS was on hand to bundle the ball over the goal line after McNiven had struck the bar twice in quick succession.

Central to the post match inquest was a plea from Mike Marsh to the club to sort the current managerial situation out quickly and Marsh's response given to the Guardian's Andrew Simpson is available on the Guardian website and thanks are extended to Andrew for his updates and review tonight.

Team: 4-4-2
Jones /
Aspin, Roberts (Mullan) Grand, Brown /
Byrne , Welch, Flynn (Bailey), Winn /
Allan, Benjamin (Wharton h/t)
Subs not used: Williams & Burns