Town Lane 5-3 FC Village
04/11/06 - League

FC Village lost for only the second time in an ill tempered game down at the Oval to two goals in the last couple of minutes. For this match against Town Lane the Village had some selection problems as Booey (shopping), Cottier and Dava (paint-balling), and Lee W (injured) were all missing leaving them with the bare eleven until Ritchie made it back from Blackpool just before the early kick off. He was named as sub but it was obvious from the start that the Village needed his presence on the pitch as quick as possible as the side were all over the place early on. They were allowing the home side plenty of space as they struggled with a slightly new formation but still managed to create two good openings. The first fell to Colin but his effort missed the post and then Sweeney burst through from midfield but his rushed shot was well wide. It just looked like it was a matter of time before they scored but straight after Sweeney’s effort the Lane went up the other end and scored the opening goal. Luckily their lead was short lived as the Village equalised soon after when Maggott broke free down the left and his measured cross was powered home at the far post by Colin. Once again defensive frailties let the Village down a while later as they let the home side get back in front. Still the Village had chances but the final ball or shot was just lacking on the day whilst the ref ignored a couple of rash tackles from the Town as both Edgy and Mike picked up a couple of nasty cuts. Looking to get to half time just one down and being able to make the change they wanted the Village then conceived to make things even harder when they allowed Town to score again and open up a 3-1 lead. Ritchie duly came on for the start of the second half as Jimmy moved to right back instead of Mike and you could see immediate results as the impressive Gavin and Ritchie started to dominate the midfield. After forcing the pressure they were rewarded early on with a second goal to reduce the arrears when from Sweeney’s corner Gavin out jumped the Town keeper to head in his first goal for the club. Unfortunately for the Village, Ritchie got injured soon after and he would be a virtual passenger for the rest of the game but they kept at it as they went in search of the equaliser with the Town relying on the odd breakaway to try and secure the win. With some 15 minutes left they got that third goal as Sweeney broke down the right wing and his cross eventually reached Maggott who thumped the ball in to the roof of the net for 3-3. Could either side now grab a winner as they both sought an opening which would give them the chance they wanted? As the clock ticked towards full time the Town got a corner and when a clearance reached the edge of the area the ball was fired home in fine style for a winner. As the Village threw everything forward in the time that remained the Town booted the ball down field and not for the first time Lee H was beaten by an obscene bounce off the uneven surface which allowed a home player to run on towards goal. Jay now came in his own as he produced three magnificent saves to keep the Town forwards out but he cruelly beaten on the fourth shot which Muzza just failed to keep out on the line and it was a fifth goal for the home side. The Town goalscorer was then sent off for a second yellow card for removing his shirt top when in fact the ref may well done better in dealing with some of their other offences during the game. So in the end the side probably deserved to come away with a point but overall it was a disappointing display and the after match drink back at the hotel went a long to helping ease the pain of the defeat as a lot was openly discussed by the team and management.