Match Report

On Sunday the Vets thought they had managed to overcome the usual problem of finding late replacements. Steve Viner and Barry Curtin came into the side with Pete Skinner back in the team after his Euro Politicing and Andy Harrold passed a fattness test! So we confidently left the Club House thinking 11 players would be there. However this was not to be. So the game started with us having 10 men against one of the better sides we play.

But despite the disadvantage we managed to play some very determined football and our opponents were soon moaning at each other as they could not break down our defence. We were by far the better organised team in the first half and it came as no surprise when we took the lead after about 30 minutes. New Vet Steve Viner‘s precision through ball found Nigel Hanington who calmly found the net from inside the area.

The Old Bill tried to step up their attacks and forced a number of corners. From one of these Nigel's near post glancing header was cleared off the line by the ever alert Mick Gearing . From the resultant corner their whinging forward's header was cleared off the line by Graeme.

John Pereira then came to the rescue saving us a couple of times but just before half-time they scored their "early?" consolation goal.

 At half-time a relation of Barry Curtin offered his services so we had 11 for the second half. They then had their best spell of the game and we were under constant pressure for about 25 minutes. John saved three goal attempts and they hit a post. We then woke up and started playing again, our midfield men Steve Viner, Peter Skinner, and Barry Curtin took control again and we started to create more chances. From one fine move down the left involving our Pete, Barry and our sub, ended with Steve Viner's left foot dipping volley dipping just under the crossbar for the winner.

They then fell apart and our forwards Andy Harrold and Nigel Hanington's superior fitness started to show. Andy streaked away from the defenders and managed to chip the ball expertly into the goalkeeper's arms. Justice was done when their star whinger (and there was quite a lot of them) apparently found a hole to fall into and had to leave the field. We then ran out comfortable winners.

This was a well deserved victory achieved mainly because we did'nt give up and kept battling right to the finish.