Future Youth 4-3 FC Village
14/10/06 - League

FC Village crashed to their first league defeat of the season in the local derby as they lost out to a most bizarre winning goal. For the first time this season manager Steve was able to announce an unchanged line up for this fixture against Future Youth and had the luxury of four subs as Ritchie returned to the bench and was joined by new signing Gavin. Ultimately the keeping of the same line up proved to be one of the reasons why the side lost this game as well as the fact that they actually didn’t play that well. Having had to get changed out in the open and then providing the match ball the Village kicked off on the small and bumpy pitch against a youthful side full of enthusiasm. For the first time in a while it was the opposition who took the incentive and after the Village had weathered the early storm they opened the scoring. Sweeney broke free of the defence and rounded the keeper to slot home for his fourth of the season. However the Village certainly didn’t look like the side from the week before as they were all over the place with some of the blame being the pitch but mostly it was just the players were off their game. Then Lee W twisted his ankle and whilst he was off the field getting treatment Future got free on the left and the winger’s shot was saved by Jay at the foot of the post and was adjudged by the ref to have crossed the line, 1-1. With the Village giving Gavin his debut for the injured Lee W, Future took advantage of the situation to take the lead when a player broke through and his shot was well saved by Jay but the velocity of it took it over the line. Now settled the Village got back in to the game and equalised soon after when Colin saw his first effort saved by the keeper but he knocked home the rebound from close in. The Village looked the better side now and when Maggott hit the bar with an exquisite lob it just looked a matter of time before they would take the lead again. Half time came but the Village suddenly lost their momentum with the break and they got caught out early in the second as Future regained the lead with another well taken effort. Then came the bizarre moment of the game when with the Village having cleared the ball up field one of the Future players was left lying injured on the ground. With several players including Village keeper Jay appealing for someone to kick the ball out of play, one of the home defenders took a massive swipe at the ball and it amazingly sailed up the pitch, over Jay’s head and in to the net. Certainly not intended but the ref awarded the goal and the Village had it all to do. Ritchie and Jimmy replaced Colin and Cottier and the side sprung back in to life with about 20 minutes left on the clock. Then when Sweeney was put through and he coolly slipped the ball past the keeper for his second of the game to make it 3-4 they thought they could salvage a point. However despite dominating, forcing several corners and half chances they ran out of time and their unbeaten record was gone. Overall a disappointing team performance with several players below par with manager Steve acknowledging his part in the defeat but if they can keep this squad together then the future looks promising and youthful with it.