Sport Blooming Rose stems visitors
Goole AFC 1
Quorn 0
A mixed day of emotions for the Vikings after Saturday's Unibond League One South win over newcomers Quorn at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds on Saturday.
Satisfaction in winning despite a below-par performance, but then concern over the immediate future of Brad Hill, their inspirational captain, who was led off the field after 34 minutes with what turned out to be more muscular damage than a cracked rib, and he may be fit for Saturday.
Add to that a facial injury to Steve Rollinson in the second half, and the Vikings can be pleased with their fourth home league win on the trot, and it is a long time since that happened.
Although Goole had their own problems on the day, the visitors had their own difficulties, breaking down on the M1 and arriving at the the ground at the scheduled kick-off time, leading to a delayed start of twenty minutes.
However - and it often happens, little preparation can often work against the side who have been waiting, and Quorn should have capitalised on careless defending in the opening fifteen minutes.
Chris Jenkinson and Liam Chapman, who have worked well as a pairing of late, were all over the place as Francino Francis and Paul White showed pace. Their shooting skills required excellent stops from Craig Parry to deny each of them.
Goole, showing one change from the side that lost unluckily on penalties in a League Cup tie with Sheffield - Andrew Jackson, now back permanently at the VPG replacing Craig Marsh - eventually settled and with Danny Buttle a lively raider down the left-hand side, it was the turn of the visiting defence to come under pressure.
And that outlet gave the Vikings a 25th-minute lead, a fine cross on the run from the former Bridlington Town man and Karl Rose produced a fine header to beat Haystead.
Brad Hill had gone close twice with a header and a blocked shot, but he took a fearsome blow to the back in a mid-air collision and couldn't carry on. Fortunately, initial fears following a hospital visit have suggested nothing too serious, but it took the gloss off the game which degenerated after the break.
And Quorn will wonder how they didn't get back in the game during a fifteen-minute spell in the second half where the Vikings appeared lethargic in all aspects.
Francis and White wasted further openings as Goole rode their luck, and it needed the introduction of player/manager Nigel Danby to change the pattern of the game.
Suddenly Goole, if not totally settled, at least started to press forward once more despite the loss of Steve Rollinson, who took a blow to the face and had to be replaced when the bleeding could not be stopped.
Few chances ensued although Duncan Bray, largely quiet, almost made the game safe with a rasping drive inches over the top after he cut inside from the right.
It wasn't pretty by any means, however with the squad pulling together and only a quarter of the season gone, they are well placed to launch an assault on the top six.
Published on 25th October 2007 in Sport.
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