AFC Vernon edged out local rivals Pelican in a five goal thriller at Vernon Park this weekend.

Vernon, who for the first time this season had a full squad available for selection, made several tactical changes to the team who had beaten East Valley Utd 5 – 3 the previous weekend, most notably with striker BROWN adopting an unfamiliar role at left back to counter the pace of Pelican’s star forward SKERVIN.

Although Vernon started brightly, it was Pelican who scored the first goal of the match after 8 minutes, a cross from the right evading several defenders before reaching KING who slotted home from 10 yards.

Back came Vernon though, who put an amazing spell of attacking football together to turn the match on its head. Firstly COATE’S corner from the right found CHAPMAN at the far post who smashed an unstoppable right footed volley past the keeper (15’). SHARPE, who was making his debut for Vernon, then linked cleverly with the impressive FERGUSON, before turning his man on the edge of the box and lofting a delightful shot in to the top right hand corner of the net to put Vernon in front for the first time in the game (21’).

Before the celebrations had died down, back came Vernon again, and SHARPE once more with space on the right hand side of the box hammered an unstoppable shot in to the roof of the net (23’). Pelican were rattled and could have conceded a fourth just before the half time whistle, when a goal seemed all but certain but a last ditch tackle rescued them which almost certainly would have seen the game all but over.

The half time whistle saved them however, and Pelican came out with a different shape in the second half, keen to pull back an early goal. Vernon’s back four held firm however, and despite Pelican’s pressure, defended stoutly. One shot cannoned back off the post, and at the other end, nobody could force the ball home as it bounced around Pelicans six yard box.

Pelican continued to press, but Vernon’s counter attacks always seemed dangerous. Just as the game appeared to be drifting towards the full time whistle, an innocuous cross from the left was sliced by BROWN over the despairing dive of his goalkeeper HUSKINSON who had put in yet another solid performance.

With just 90 seconds left, the tension was unbearable, but Vernon held out to record a memorable victory over their local rivals, which saw them rise to 4th in the table.