FC Village 1-0 Claughton Hotel
02/09/06 - League

FC Village kicked off the new season in fine style with a hard fought win. Having thought hard over the summer about whether to fold or not; the club decided at the last moment to give it another go. They managed to get a week’s reprieve before playing their opening game and that week was taken trying to get players signed on. They managed to get thirteen but with 1 of those suspended and another in manager Steve (in case of an emergency only) they had to make a couple of new signings on the actual match day. With the league down to 2 divisions the team knew that this was going to be a tough season and with 12 other teams all vying for promotion to the top flight it was really important to make a good start. For this opening fixture against Claughton Hotel the boys kicked off on a great playing surface down at Levers and despite the very strong wind made a bright start. They forced the issue and created several half chances in that opening period with the new boys settling in really well. Down at the other end the defence was looking very strong and with the wind spoiling many of the moves it came as no surprise that the game was still goalless at halftime. With the visitors having the wind behind them now you would have expected them to take the game to the Village but it was the other way round. The home side created the better of the chances but they couldn’t find a way past the Claughton keeper. Sweeney saw a couple shots go wide and he knew it wasn’t his day when the keeper made a fine save from his best effort. Down at the other end the visitors had one great chance when a player broke free but in his one on one he placed his shot wide of the post. With some 20 minutes remaining manager Steve brought on young Mike for his debut in the hope they could just snatch the one goal that would probably win the match. Some 10 minutes later this happened as Jimmy who had switched over to the left wing crossed and as the ball evaded everyone in the middle there was Mike coming in at the far post to sweep the ball home. The team went wild with delight and the only disappointment was that his older brother had left the ground and didn’t see it. Claughton now threw everything at the Village goal using the long ball with the wind behind and they had a great opportunity to equalise but Edgy made a great goal line clearance to keep them out. The Village saw out the remaining time and could even had scored a second but with the clean sheet that one goal was enough and an opening day win was secured. With plenty to improve on it was still a very good team effort with the defence looking really solid as Sweeney got the first M.O.M.