Malet Vikings Veterans Fall Short Against Blackburn Leisure

In a closely contested league match at Malet Lambert School on 12 January 2025, Malet Vikings Veterans succumbed to Blackburn Leisure with a final score of 1-2. The match, which kicked off at 2:00 PM, saw the home side put in a spirited performance but ultimately fall short against their opponents.

The Vikings lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, a setup designed to provide both defensive solidity and attacking width. Chris Hudson took his place in goal, while the back four consisted of Mike Sullivan on the right, Alex Boyton and Craig Sharpless in central defence, and Ricky Moore on the left. The midfield trio featured Simon Wilkinson on the right, Kris Chadwick in the centre, and Jimmy Hatton on the left, providing a balance of creativity and work rate. Up front, Paul Burton led the line as the right forward, flanked by striker Karl Smith in the middle and Liam Power on the left, tasked with stretching the opposition defence and creating goal-scoring opportunities.

The substitutes for the match included Darren Knowles, Phil Heys, and Matthew Carr, who would be called upon to make an impact as the game progressed.

The first half saw both teams probing for openings, but it was the Vikings who made the first tactical change when Darren Knowles replaced Craig Sharpless in the 21st minute. However, this substitution was short-lived, as Sharpless returned to the pitch just 11 minutes later, taking the place of Knowles once again.

As the match approached half-time, the Vikings made two more substitutions, bringing on Phil Heys for Liam Power and Matthew Carr for Ricky Moore, both changes occurring at the interval. The first half ended without any goals, but the stage was set for a thrilling second half.

The breakthrough came shortly after the restart when Paul Burton found the net in the 51st minute, giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead and igniting hopes of a home victory. However, Blackburn Leisure responded swiftly, equalising just four minutes later in the 55th minute, demonstrating their resilience.

The match took a decisive turn in the 73rd minute when Blackburn Leisure was awarded a penalty, which they converted to take a 2-1 lead. This goal left the Vikings with a mountain to climb as they sought to salvage a point from the match.

Despite their best efforts in the closing stages, the Vikings were unable to find an equaliser, and the match concluded with Blackburn Leisure celebrating their hard-fought victory. Paul Burton's performance stood out, earning him recognition as the Player of the Match for his crucial goal and overall contribution to the team's efforts.