Prior to kick-off, we had some minor problems as ournregular keeper was unable to recover from a knock, and with his stand-in away,nBinns took the gloves and we lined up in a 4-5-1 formation.

Game started and it was the usual stuff as both teamsntried to gain control, but there was little give in the opening exchanges,nuntil a long through ball from the Vikings saw a calamitous cock up betweennBinns and Street and the Vikings striker stealing in for the simplest of tapnins.

Hotspurs started to play their way back into the gamenwith some nice work down the flanks and fully utilising the space created bynPoutakidis and Naidu changes of play. Our goal came from some good build upnwith a quick switch of play out to Naidu, who beat his man and delivered annexcellent cross over to Esad, who headed home.

1-1  Half-time

Second half, and it was a similar start to the first,nHotspurs with some good possession but creating limited chances and Vikingsnworking hard and looking very solid at the back. The break-through came from a veryngood individual goal as the Vikings captain went on a solo run, beating severalnplayers before selling Binns an outrageous dummy to score into an open net..n2-1

Hotspurs continued to press and hit the bar with andipping shot from Poutakidis. However only minutes after hitting the barnPoutakidis received a very harsh straight red card. The ball had got away fromnhim as he went past a player, he whole heartedly threw himself into the tacklenand there was no question by anyone that he won the ball. Admittedly his footnwas raised, but then again how does one go for a ball in mid-air without takingnones foot off the ground? Even the watching SCC were amazed by the decision.

This was followed by a number of excellent chances fornthe Vikings which should have seen them wrap it up, and it looked increasingnlikely that Hotspurs would be leaving without any points, until a corner wasncleared to McVeigh about 30 yards out. What was to happen next came as purensurprise to many as he unleashed a sweet strike that nestled in the bottom-leftnof the Vikings net 2-2. It was quite similar to Steven Gerrard’s in the FA CupnFinal vs West Ham, and importantly it would lead to a result-changingnoutcome as in the closing minutes some good work from the right found Phil innthe box who turned the centre-half and finished well. 3-2

In the closing stages the Vikings did hit the post from anwell-struck free kick but it was to be Hotspurs day.

Credit to the Vikings who were missing players and madenit very hard, but Hotspurs did not give up, played hard and got an excellentnresult. With 3 league games and the opportunity to grab 3rd place, plus the CupnFinal a big week and half ahead.