Vegas Style Improves And Progress Into Cup's Next Round

<p>Magical Vegas restored some self-confidence and self-belief with a hard-fought win against tough opposition in the Islington Gazette Cup. Vegas were drawn against a Foxam Park side they only managed 2 goals against last season in 180mins and the opening 45 minutes suggested that trend was set to continue.

<p>Vegas started brightly and confidently putting Foxam under pressure from the start, however Foxam settled into a grove and Vegas found they were coming up against some pressure from long diagonal passes in behind their full-backs. Despite not seeing the majority of the ball and losing many 2nd balls Vegas took the lead when returning captain Patrick Moore Jones slid in (MOM) Mikes Appiah who advanced on the goalie and cooly curled his high effort into the far corner from the left hand side of the box. Vegas began to finally piece some passes together but too often lost retention of the ball and pressure moutned on them coming up to half time. Set pieces seemed to be dangerous and when a 2nd ball from a free-kick was lost after a clearance their striker turned on the edge of the box and played in a teamate between left back and centre back - who cut in a fired in at the near post.

<p>The wind had a big effect 2nd half and Vegas found it difficult to get out of their half at time but when they broke forward they looked dangerous. Steven Bruce, on this 21st birthday (cough), held the ball up well after making a tackle and played in Shane McNamara who fired over the goalie from outside the box to make it 2-1. Some nervous moments and a point blank save from stand-in goalie Ozzie Barkat kept Vegas in the lead, but when Jacob Bond and Erol Resat replaced tiring players with 20mins to go the fresh legs and creativity they provided was a welcome boost to the "Vegas Boys' play.

<p>Soon after, after some handy build up play, Resat squared the ball unselfishly for Bruce to tap home a birthday goal to go with his assist. And the energetic Harry Pedersen sped down the right wing and delivered a brilliant cross the goalie fumbled to allow Resat to score his 2nd in 2 games and Vegas' 4th of the night. In the end the enjoyment had come back into Vegas' play and they could have scored more. They can now move forward in the league with renewed confidence they can still play with the style they played so well with from the season previously.