FC Village 2-7 Black Horse Wallasey
05/05/07 - League

The final scoreline somewhat flattered the League leaders but there was no denying they were the better side on the day in this penultimate game of the season. The Village travelled to their new ‘home’ down at Plymyards with the bare eleven as Ritchie, Maggot, Sweeney, Colin and Les were all missing. Luckily they saw the return of Gav after a long lay off and he went in to a five man midfield along with the available Cottier as Booey was pushed up front as a lone striker. With the sun beating down on another hot day the first fifteen minutes saw the Village hold their own but once the Black Horse opened the scoring with a bit of a dubious goal the home side seemed to fall apart. It quickly became 2-0 to the visitors as the Village struggled to contain their attacks down the right but then they had a great chance to get back in to the game. The ball was put in to the area by Cottier and it fell to Booey but with only the keeper to beat he saw his miss hit shot easily saved. The side were to rue this miss as the Black Horse doubled their lead with two more goals before the interval to virtually secure their victory. So as in a few games this season the half time talk was all about salvaging some pride and trying to at least win the second half. And what a start the side made as straight from the kick off the ball fell to Cottier whose goal bound effort was blocked by a visiting defender with his hands. Penalty said the ref and as the Village had missed their last two penalties up stepped Gav this time only to see the keeper guess the right way and save his effort. Despite the setback the Village were dominating and forced several corners before the keeper made a brilliant save to keep out Booey’s excellent diving header. Next Gavin forced his way in to the area only to see the keeper once more pull off a great save. Then against the run of play and rather fortunately the visitors increased their lead when a midfielder blocked a clearance with what looked like his hands but he was allowed to run on and he coolly finished for 5-0. Finally the Village got on the score sheet themselves as from yet another Cottier corner the ball was bundled in to the net by Nic from close range. The Village still kept plugging away and when they scored a second goal towards the end they felt they had achieved their second half objective. This time Gav who had swapped places with Booey broke in to the Black Horse area and he made no mistake as he slotted home. Having given it their all the Village were then cruelly denied that second half victory as the Black Horse made the most of their tiredness and scored two late efforts to give a final score line of 7-2. 5-2 would have given a better reflection on how the game had gone for as poor as they were in the first half the Village had held the upper hand in the second until those final few minutes. So one game left as the Village end their season next week down at Plymyards and hopefully they will have a near full strength side and end it with a win.