Irvine Victoria V Vale Of Leven (Victoria Park 16/10/2021)

Irvine Victoria V Vale Of Leven – SFA South Challenge Cup Round 2 (16/10/2021)

My journey started at midday as I left Stepps and headed towards the Ayrshire coast once again, this time a few stops on the train earlier than last week at Irvine. My first trip to Victoria Park but my second SFA South Challenge Cup game of the season, I would love to be able to get to a game in each round of this cup this season.

Another scenic train journey which can’t be grumbled at, the only issue with the train journey was the smell of piss travelling through the carriage from the toilet. Nice easy walk to Victoria Park, the home of Irvine Victoria, which didn’t even require google maps to get there as the ground is easily seen from the railway line as my train passed.

I got into the ground at about half two, headed straight to the kiosk and picked up a plain pie for £1.50 which was satisfying and wasn’t as plain as the name states. A bonus while waiting on my pie was a dog in the queue also, as regular readers know I love a dog at the football, I keep toying with the idea of bringing my dog along but not sure he would sit for the duration of the game. The ground is a great little junior ground, with a partially covered stand along the one side of the pitch, a terrace behind the goal and a cracking stone wall along the other side, which has the railway line running behind up a hill.

A crowd of what looked like around 100 were at Victoria Park for the second round cup game between Irvine Victoria and Vale Of Leven. The game had something I’d not seen at a football match before as there were twins playing, one on each team, number 6 Chris Jackson for Vale of Leven and number 9 Shane Jackson for Irvine Victoria. The return of no linesman this week, but the two people they had fill in to run the line both stood in the same half making any decision all the more tougher for the referee. I found a spot stood on the half way line next to the scaffolding from where the game was being filmed and also the home dugout.

The first half was a very even half, with the bulk of the play in the middle of the pitch and plenty of battles between the two midfields. Both teams had a few chances, with the home side having the best of the chances when they rattled the bar but neither side could get a goal.

A slip at the on the half way line by Victoria’s Clayton Smith lead to an unlikely counter attack which left the keeper facing two players and Callum Richardson for the away side slotted the ball past the keeper it make it 1-0 to Vale Of Leven with 5 minutes to play.

The second half was another close battle and I was certain we would be getting extra time but that late error cost Victoria the game and it’s Vale Of Leven who go into the third round draw. Both sides looked decent throughout the game but chances weren’t taken and I felt they both sides cancelled each other out well. I really enjoyed my trip to Victoria Park and hopefully get to a third round tie of the cup now.