Manor Athletic 2-3 FC Village
02/12/06 - Sponsors Cup Second Qualifying Round 1st Leg

The Village take a narrow lead in to next weeks second leg after they beat their first division opponents with a wonder goal from Dava. The team had to make three enforced changes as both Booey and Lee H were working and Edgy was obviously out with his broken leg but on his first day out of hospital he came and supported the side from his chair on the touchline. They were replaced by the returning Dave, Gavin and Nic who slotted straight back in to the side with Jimmy having to switch to the vacant left back berth. On a sticky surface the Village made the best possible start scoring twice in the first 5 minutes and had Sweeney’s first minute offside effort been allowed to stand they could have been three up. Almost immediately after the disallowed goal the Village got a throw deep in the Manor half and when the ball reached Maggott in the six yard box he hooked it over his head in to the goal to open the scoring. Incredibly with virtually their next attack Maggott was put in the clear and slotted past the advancing keeper for 2-0 and his tenth of the season. The home side now knew that their lower division opponents were not just there to make up the numbers and started to get their game going. With the ref being over fussy for many of the decisions there was no flow to the game as the Manor got closer and closer to getting back in to it. They eventually scored midway through the half when a long through ball wasn’t cleared properly and a forward lobbed over the advancing Jay. Then the ref really did go over the top as he booked both Sweeney and manager Steve for appealing against decisions but when a Manor player swore at him he took no action. Half time arrived with the Village still leading by the odd goal and they knew that it would be a tough second half with the Manor determined not to go in to the second leg behind. However it was the Village who dominated the early stages of the second forty five but they were unable to extend their lead which allowed Manor to once again get back on top. They pushed the Village defence further and further back but they were holding firm until a misguided header by Dava was in fact the perfect through ball for one of the Manor forwards and he ran on to slot in the equaliser. It was anyone’s game as both sort a winner to take an advantage in to the second leg but neither side looked like getting that vital goal. With manager Steve sent to the stands or in this case his car for making comments about the referee’s lack of fairness in bookings the game was ever edging towards a draw. Then with less than 10 minutes remaining Dava attempted a cross some 35 yards out on the right but saw his effort hit a defender, rebound back to him, he then lobbed it over the defender and just hit it towards goal. The next thing everyone saw was the ball nestling in the back of the net and he was swamped by his joyful team mates. Suddenly it was backs against the wall stuff for the Village as Manor threw everything at them. They hit the bar and post and Jay made a great save low down as the Village kept them out to record a fine win. Not a great performance but everyone battled to the end. Of course it’s only half time and the Village go in to this week’s second leg at Levers knowing that it will be another big test for them.