A slow start saw the Vikings slump to a 2-1 loss against a red hot Bell Park on the road on Saturday.

Bell Park came out of the blocks firing and put Sebastopol under immediate pressure in the round-eight clash.

Viking Nick Dean, carrying a split head, left the ground for 10 minutes early in the match after copping a knock from team mate Luke Swards.

The home side used the lack of numbers to score the first, and eventually take a 1-0 lead into the break.

Bell Park extended its lead 2-0 on the restart from a corner, despite the Vikings holding the run of play.

The sting went out of the game for much of the closing stanza, before Franck Labakohler ignited Sebastopol when he found the back of the net at the 75-minute mark.

An entertaining end to the clash saw both sides continue with an attacking brand of football, with neither seriously able to trouble the goals, despite Ryan Rykers and Carl Frankson taking shots.

Vikings coach Michael Busija lamented his side’s poor start, which was uncharacteristic, given the Vikings’ strong beginning to the men’s state league four season.

“They started really well, they were like a bull at the gates,” Busija said.

“We just didn’t start well enough in this game.”

“We’re probably a better football side but we had to match their intensity.

“Intensity to me is doing the right things at the right time, and our second half was really pleasing.”

Busija said Frankson, who has missed the past 18 months with a broken leg, is in line for a starting debut after impressing off the pine in the past two matches.

Vikings now sit outright third on the ladder on 14 points with four wins, two draws and two losses.

The club will host Altona North, 10th, in round nine action this Saturday.

michael.pollock@fairfaxmedia.com.au