Bronze Social 5-1 FC Village
10/03/07 - League

Village's bad run continues as they slumped to their heaviest defeat so far with this thrashing from Bronze Social. With 5 first choice players all absent they had a bit of an excuse but they just didn't turn up for the first half which cost them the match. The 5 missing were Nic (injured), Damo and Leigh (both working), Sweeney and Maggot (home duties) and they were to prove big losses, for although the players who ran out on to the field didn’t have a bad game individually the team as a whole did. In came Cottier, Jason and Steve for a rare appearance with several players playing out of position. On a flat yet bumpy surface the Village struggled from the kick off to get their game going and once the more experienced (several first team players were evidently in their line up) Bronze scored their first goal it was obvious things could get worse. That opening goal came from a far post header where the forward was totally unmarked and it wasn’t long before it was 2-0 to the home side as they laid siege to the Village goal. The Village were actually deploying their off side trap quite well and the ref must have given at least ten off side decisions to the visitors. Just after that second goal went in the Village had their best chance of the half when Booey broke through but he stumbled as he was about to shoot and his effort rolled tamely towards the keeper. Things got worse before the interval as the lack lustre Village conceded two more goals leaving the half time team talk to be one of pride and commitment for the remaining forty five minutes. With a slight team change that saw Cottier and Steve change places the Village suddenly looked more balanced and would come off at the end with a moral victory. When the Bronze scored a fifth just after the restart with what looked an offside effort the Village could have easily caved in but they didn’t and although they scored only the one consolation goal their play, effort and attitude was much better. That goal came when Cottier was played through and he coolly rounded the keeper to slot in to the empty net for his second of the season. He could have even had a second later on but his effort rolled just wide. Gavin, Booey and Martin all came close to adding to the total but Bronze could easily have scored more as well and both Jay and Booey were lucky to stay on the field for bringing down a forward and pushing an opponent respectively. At least when the final whistle came the side were able to walk off the field knowing that they had at least put up a fight in the second period but all the damage had been done before hand. The team must now regroup knowing that in the weeks to come they will need all their players and need them to put in 100%.