Lady Luck Strikes As Magical Win Opening Game

Magical Vegas kicked off the invitational cup with hard fought victory over Regents Rovers at market road football pitches.

Vegas experimented with a 3-4-3 formation with Tarik Allag making his final appearance for the vegas boys. Mikes Appiah and Patrick Moore Jones started with a free role behind the returning Erol Resat.

The game started slowly and Rovers looked the better side without to much threatening play until a corner was headed back across the box and their striker headed in from 2 yards out.

Vegas's play was broken and didn't have much structure until Appiah picked up a loose ball 35 yards out and played a reverse no-look pass into Moore Jones who had popped up on the left-side of the penalty box. After setting himself with his first touch, he curled a high strike in off the far post giving the keeper no chance from a tight angle.

The rest of the half was quite broken with neither side doing much decent attacking with defenders on top, especially Louis LLoyd Pack who broke up the main attacking threat of Rovers' team on regular occasions.

When half time came Vegas reverted to a flat back 4 with Kaleb King and Luke Morgan taking up winger positions, this yielded immediate results as King made in interception from kick off. Fed the ball to Morgan who tormented 2 Rovers defenders down the left wing and crossed for Resat to tap in from 2 yards out. 5 minutes later, Vegas where 3-1 up when a Moore Jones in-swinging free-kick evaded everybody and nestled in the far corner with the keeper stationary.

However, as the game wore on the balance tilted in Rovers' favour with their tricky wingers and skilful attackers began taking more risks in one-on-one situations. One magnificent save from Matthew Summers kept the scoreline 3-1 when a shot from outside the box destined fro the top corners was tipped over flying to his left. With Vegas' midfield tiring, Rovers eventually broke through when a long ball over the right back was brought down by the Rovers winger that had been causing them the most concern. He cut inside, holding off the attentions of the Vegas defender, and fired a rasping effort past the goalkeeper.

Vegas dropped deeper to hold on to their lead and only the post saved them when their striker turned neatly in the box and found the inside of the post that rebounded into Summers' delighted hands.

Vegas were still dangerous on the break and could have settled the game and should have had a late penalty. But when the final whistle blew the Vegas boys could finally breathe easily and look back at a great run that has seen them turn their season around.