Central Park 4-6 FC Village
28/10/06 - League

FC Village's three away games this season have so far yielded a total of 27 goals as they were involved in yet another 10 goal thriller. For this match against early pacesetters Central Park the management knew that Ritchie was unavailable and Lee W was injured but then found on Saturday morning that there was no Dava, Gavin or Jimmy. A quick phone call got Toby to sign on for the day and slot in at right back and they managed to strap up Lee W and put him on the bench alongside young Mike. So the side kicked off on yet another small and poor playing surface with an attacking line up of 4-3-3 and they soon got in their stride. After testing the Park keeper early on the Village got a corner which Sweeney swung over and when the keeper dropped it there was Booey to knock in from close range to open the scoring. Just as it looked as though this could be a match where the Village would hold the upper hand they let their opponents back in to the game when from a corner a Park forward swept the ball home for the equaliser. No one picked him up and this was one of the disappointments to come out this match. However it wasn’t long before the lead had been restored as Maggott got the ball on the edge of the area beat his defender and curled in a great shot. Once again instead of pushing home their advantage the visitors allowed the home side back in it to level the scores for a second time. This time Nic brought his attacker down just inside the area and the ref pointed to the spot which Jay got his finger tips to but couldn’t just save it and it was 2-2. Just before this Colin had a great chance to increase the Village’s lead but he hit his shot too well and the keeper made a good save. Still level at the turn around the Village knew the first ten minutes should prove be crucial and it looked as though this was the case as they scored two early goals. Firstly Colin was on hand to fire in from close range and then Maggott got his second and the sides fourth when he beat Booey to a header and saw his effort loop over the keeper in to the net. 4-2 up and looking like the result was theirs the Village once again let the Park back in to it when Nic for a second time was adjudged by the ref to have made a foul in the area and another penalty was given. Once again Jay nearly got to it but the ball hit the back of the net and then only minutes later the home team were on level terms for the third time in the match. A long ball out of the Park defence was chased by the lanky forward and he raced away to slot home his third of the game. The Park must have thought they could win it now but almost immediately the Village went back down the other end and there was Muzza to sweep home from the edge of the area for his first of the season. Suddenly it was all Village as they tore open the Park defence and when Sweeney was on hand to fire in number six you knew there was no way back for the Park anymore. A couple of more chances came and went but the Village were just happy at the final whistle to have won a game they should really have sown up in the first half. However it’s another two points and a rise of a couple of places in the league table to fourth place.