Leek CSOB 1 - 1 Vikings FC

Vikings FC made the trip to Leek CSOB on Saturday looking to get back to winning ways after two disappointing results to start the month and keep up with the teams at the top of the table. A much changed team line-up gave opportunities to a number of players who have been waiting for the chance to play at North West Counties level.

Starting the game brightly and creating a number of good chances to take the lead Vikings FC looked comfortable to claim all 3 points, however a number of good saves from the home goalkeeper and last ditch tackles prevented the black and whites from taking the lead. The home side found confidence from this and a level score line going into half time was probably about right overall.

The second half started just how the first half finished, a number of chances for both teams came and went. It was a match in which just one goal from either team was going to claim all 3 points. The Leek defence finally cracked in the 80th minute as Lee Hughes gave Vikings FC the lead and what looked like all 3 points on the day.

Vikings FC manager Steve Hill made a number of substitutions with the aim to close the game out and concentration was the message from the touchline. With only 5minutes remaining an unusual mistake from Vikings FC centre back Jon McMenemy gifted Leek CSOB striker a glorious one-on-one chance to equalise and the finish past a helpless John Kewin in the Vikings FC goal.

From a neutral point of view a point would have been a fair reflection on the match. Vikings FC manager Steve Hill thought otherwise, it was again two points dropped from a winning position. This is an area that the team really need to work on moving forward and the message was loud and clear at the end of the game, another learning curve for this young side to take away and put right in the next fixture.

Next up for the Vikings FC is another trip to Stafford on the weekend against Hanley Town followed by a mid-week fixture away at Cheadle Town. Vikings FC end the month with a home fixture on Saturday 28th September against Atherton Collieries, an extremely tough fixture list and one which the players can all look forward to playing in however to get anything from these games they will need to play at their best abilities and match the tough physical element of playing semi-professional football on a regular basis.