Erewash Sound
On Air Now
Bob Staveley19:00 - 21:00
Listen Live
Bob Staveley
Updated 4th February: A local digest for all things Borrowash Vics.
2 POINT GAP, 3 GAMES IN HAND FOR ADVANCING VICS
Blaby & Whetstone Athletic P - P Borrowash Victoria - Saturday 4th February
East Midlands Counties League
Nathan Parker has swapped the Grange Park Blues for the Watkinsons Bowl Vics as Borrowash look to continue capitalising on league leaders Heanor Town's recent drop in form. A semi-commanding lead for the Lions has been reduced to two points but with Borrowash holding 3 games in hand. What Heanor do have is a far superior goal difference and if Borrowash are to seize the top spot from the Lions, they must do it on victories and points and they're getting both and if Parker can hold off a niggling knee injury, he could be yet another boost to the buoyant Vics.
The battle of wills will not be fought out once more this weekend though - the Vics will not be travelling to Blaby & Whetstone after the cold snap unsurprisingly led to the postponement of the fixture. In other Vics news, a League Cup semi-final place was secured in midweek with a 2-1 win over near neighbours Graham Street Prims. Lee Sutton's goal for Borrowash cancelled out by Jim Slack's equaliser for Prims before Ben Greenhalgh scored a 115th minute winner.
SEMI-FINALS PLACE SECURED AGAINST LOCAL RIVALS:
Graham Street Prims 1-2 Borrowash Victoria - Wednesday 1st February
League Cup
It was a late flourish in extra time, but Borrowash Victoria did enough in midweek to make it through to the semi-finals of the East Midlands Counties League Cup on Wednesday night. Local rivals Graham Street Prims welcomed the Vics from the other nearby pitch, and it was the hosts who controlled the early action, although Borrowash took the lead just after the half hour - Lee Sutton's free kick finding the net.
The Prims continued the fight and held most of the control of the game, deservedly equalising in the 75th minute courtesy of Jim Slack, nipping through the defence before beating the Vics keeper Steve Smith. But extra time beckoned and passed with the score locked at 1-1 for all but five minutes when with 115 minutes played, Ben Greenhalgh popped up for Mark Wilson's men to score from close range and spark joy on the Vics bench.
BATTLE RECOMMENCES ONCE MORE:
Borrowash Victoria 4-2 St Andrews - Saturday 28th January 2012
East Midlands Counties League
Savour the build of the East Midlands Counties League table - a wobbling lead is retained by Heanor Town but after being in commanding form, Heanor have not been able to keep the momentum going, but Borrowash Victoria have. St Andrews visited the Bowl last weekend - a side who had recently held the Lions to a 2-2 draw - a result Borrowash wanted to avoid as much as defeat if they were to pile more pressure on Heanor Town.
As it stands, the Vics have 3 games in hand and are just two points behind after Heanor lost away at Thurnby Nirvana to a 3-2 scoreline. Borrowash Victoria meanwhile took a 4-2 home victory with two goals in added time. But St Andrews staked their claim to a victory early on, scoring first on the stroke of half time through Kieran Linnett.
Shane Newton levelled the other side of the break but St Andrews retook the lead through Linnett's 2nd goal. The Vics were back on level terms with 18 minutes to go through Dave Moon but he and his team mates were left to carve out a win the hard way after Sam Kellogg was given his marching orders leading to a restart.
With a 2-2 scoreline looking ever more likely, added time ticked almost as a formality but the Vics turned the game on its head in the 91st minute through Moon set up Tommy Leighton and St Andrews were left shell-shocked and reeling with the last kick of the game - Lee Sutton racing through to register a 4-2 scoreline and spark celebrations amongst Mark Wilson's charging side.
BATTLE ON HOLD AS PITCH CONDITION UNSUITABLE:
Borrowash Victoria P-P Holwell Sports - Saturday 21st January 2012
East Midlands Counties League
There was another twist in the fight to close the gap to East Midlands Counties League leaders Heanor Town. Borrowash Victoria had two games in hand over the Lions going into last weekend's scheduled home game against Holwell Sports, having already closed the gap to five points the previous weekend with a 3-0 win over Ibstock United whilst Heanor were held 2-2 by St Andrews.
Come 4:45pm that day, the Vics had 3 games in hand over Heanor and were just five points behind after the Lions were soundly beaten 3-6 by Barrow Town on home soil. Officials at the Bowl concluded that the condition of the pitch was not suitable for safe play after the recent frost and rain..
HOME AGAIN FOR VICS ON ROLL:
Borrowash Victoria 3-0 Ibstock United - Saturday 14th January 2012
East Midlands Counties League
The gap has narrowed to the summit of the East Midlands Counties League. Whilst leaders Heanor Town were being held 2-2 by St Andrews, Borrowash Victoria were scoring well at the Bowl against Ibstock United.
But it was hard work in the first instance as Ibstock refused to give up without a fight - the Leicestershire side challenging every ball and fighting every tackle, with all 11 men staying very firmly behind the ball in a possible attempt to frustate the hosts before taking advantage if the moment arrived.
That moment didn't arrive, infact, Borrowash turned up the wick and took advantage in the 21st minute wjem Steve Banks' individual effort received widespread appreciation to make it 1-0 to Borrowash. On the half hour, it was 2-0, Paolo Piliero's powerful shot finding the net after his first attempt was parried.
The 2nd half was just a few minutes old when it was game over for Ibstock and points in the bag for Borrowash - Paolo Piliero scoring from 20 yards after combining well with Newton and Banks.
REVENGE SWEET FOR VICS AFTER OPENING DAY DEFEAT:
Borrowash Victoria 3-1 Bardon Hill Sports - Saturday 7th January 2012
East Midlands Counties League
After losing to Bardon Hill Sports on the opening day of the season, Borrowash Victoria exacted the same score in revenge on Saturday. However, if there is to be a change in the standings at the top of the East Midlands Counties League, either the Vics or leaders Heanor Town must lose the momentum. As it happened last weekend, neither blinked - Heanor taking a 4-1 home win over the Vics previous opponents Radford.
Against Bardon Hill at the Bowl, Borrowash struggled to make home advantage show as both sides competed evenly with chances few and far between at either end. However, just after the half hour mark, the Vics took the lead - Shane Newton set off on a strong right hand sided run, before sending a low cross to Paolo Piliero who made sure.
The second half saw Bardon clearly bolstered by a half-time team talk and pulled level four minutes shy of the hour mark - Gareth Sheldon scoring from 20 yards with a neat free kick, but if the visitors thought they could turn the game, Borrowash made sure they didn't with two goals in 60 seconds.
21 minutes from time, Jamie Pawley took a free kick from just outside of the penalty area, and Bardon's Paul O'Callaghan deflected the ball into his own net, and Shane Newton made sure of yet another three points by ensuring Marc Finlay's goalbound shot went in. So, seven points remains the gap to leaders Heanor, but there are still two games in hand for a consistent Vics side who have won 16 of their 20 fixtures so far.
VICS CONTINUE THE CHASE:
Borrowash Victoria 2-0 Radford - Monday 2nd January 2012
East Midlands Counties League
It may be a gap of 7 points, but if Borrowash Victoria continue to chalk up some reasonable results, including from their 2 games in hand, East Midlands Counties League leaders Heanor Town could well be caught soon, especially if the Lions slip up, which, to be fair, they haven't done of late.
The Vics welcomed Nottingham side Radford to the Bowl on New Year Bank Holiday Monday and took the lead on the quarter-hour mark - Shane Newton finding a gap to set off on a run before sliding the ball past Jack Harvey as the keeper came off his line. Radford didn't willingly allow Borrowash through and the home side struggled to find further goals. However, 20 minutes from time, it was 2-0 - Marc Finlay found space to run clear, shooting from 18 yards out, and putting the ball just inside the far post.
Over at Holwell Sports, Heanor Town were continuing to make it hard work for the Vics in a 3-1 victory to keep the status-quo at the top of the table, but crucially for Mark Wilson's Borrowash Victoria, still with those 2 games in hand.
VICS AIM TO PLAY SCROOGE WITH TITLE FIGHT IS SCUPPERED:
Holbrook Sports P-P Borrowash Victoria - Monday 26th December 2011
East Midlands Counties League
Borrowash Victoria players and staff had the chance to tuck into Christmas Day leftovers after electrical problems at Holbrook Sports led to the postponement of Boxing Day's fixture.
GAP OPENS AS HEANOR MARCH ON AWAY AND VICS STUMBLE AT HOME
Borrowash Victoria 2-3 Thurnby Nirvana – Saturday 17th December 2011
East Midlands Counties League
One point behind, but four points is now the different between East Midlands Counties League leaders Heanor Town after the Lions won but the Vics lost at the weekend. Over in Leicestershire, Ibstock United were allowing Heanor to help themselves to a 0-4 win. It all looked far more favourable at the Bowl as Borrowash strode into a 2 goal lead against visiting side Thurnby Nirvana. Shane Newton scored two inside the opening 15 minutes but the response came in commanding fashion as Thurnby retaliated for the Vics having the nerve to race ahead so soon. Alex Johnson scored two and Brett Martin scored from the spot to seal the win for mid-table Thurnby.
Vics manager Mark Wilson branded the match a 'shocker', reflecting on such a perfect start, and criticising what he said was 'terrible' defending, as he had to endure a drawn out Thurnby fightback, one goal before the break, and during what Wilson said wa a 'mad ten minutes' after the break. What now for the Vics? A Boxing Day away trip to Holbrook Sports whilst their table topping Amber Valley rivals play at home against Gedling Miners Welfare. The right evidently remains firmly on, but for the Vics to be able to mount a serious challenge for the top spot, there can be little if no room for error, especially if Borrowash Victoria are to avoid another 'close but no cigar' moment come the end of the season.
FIVE ALIVE FOR VICS AS PRESSURE STAYS ON TOP SIDE:
Ellistown 0-5 Borrowash Victoria - Saturday 10th December 2011
East Midlands Counties League
If they weren't already keeping a watchful eye on Borrowash Victoria, East Midlands Counties League leaders Heanor Town would be wise to pay some attention now after Mark Wilson's Vics travelled to Ellistown and embarked on a goalfest.
Heanor still cling to the top of the East Midlands Counties League table by 1 point, but Borrowash Victoria have one game in hand. The Vics needed to get scoring, as over in the Amber Valley, Heanor were scoring five past lowly Holbrook Sports.
Lee Sutton scored a hat-trick for the Vics, going ahead just before half time, Sutton picked up, controlled and brought down a cross from Paolo Piliero onto his chest, the slid the ball under the keeper. Six minutes short of the hour, Sam Kellogg's very couragously taken header gave the Vics another goal, and the other side of the hour it was 0-3 on the road. Dave Hind was brought down, Ellistown's Wayne Dean given his marching orders and Sutton given the chance to convert sending the keeper the wrong way.
Two goals became three for Sutton 20 minutes from time, a curling shot from 20 yards nestling into the far corner of the net, and the goal fest was completed in the game's final moments - Ben Greenhalgh's shot appeared every inch the goal but it deflected into the net off Hind - no bother - a 5-0 win that the Vics needed, but on the day, Heanor appeared to put up an equal fight, but it's not over yet by a long chalk.
BOTTOM HOST BUDDING TOP VICS:
Greenwood Meadows 0-1 Borrowash Victoria - Saturday 3rd December 2011
East Midlands Counties League
East Midlands Counties basement side Greenwood Meadows hosted Borrowash Victoria at the weekend - a game the statisticians would suggest was a foregone conclusion result wise - considering how the Vics have performed this season so far, but a previously free-scoring Borrowash side took just one goal this time around, good play by Shane Newton on the quarter hour mark saw him create space for Dave Moon who darted around a defender and the keeper to slot home into an empty gaping net.
Although Greenwood had a go at levelling in the second half, the Borrowash back line was a force to be reckoned with, holding firm for the entire second 45, and registering a ninth clean sheet in what is a lengthening unbeaten run - it would have been a winning run had Barrow Town not have held them to a 1-1 draw a few weeks ago. As it was, the Vics could have gone further ahead, but saw a penalty claim turned down late on when Marc Finlay was felled. Just a point separates 2nd place Vics from 1st placed Heanor, and the Vics have a game in hand. Mouthwatering stuff indeed and all happening right here in the Erewash borough. Who needs Premiership and Championship?!
.
NEW WEBSITE LINK FOR VICS: Borrowash Victoria can now be found on line at: www.pitchero.com/clubs/borrowashvictoria/.