Trafalgar Rangers 1-1 FC Village
14/04/07 - League

FC Village completed their away program for the season and got some sort of revenge on their bogey team in that at last they scored a goal against them and didn't lose but it was a game they felt that they did enough to have won. Having lost twice already this season to Trafalgar Rangers the Village knew that they would have to field a strong side and a team full of players that were up for a battle. With only Martin and Muzza missing they were able to field virtually their first team line up with Jay coming in for a rare appearance which meant that for the first time in ages they almost fielded the same side for two games running. Captain Booey gave a rallying pre-match speech and you could see straight from the kick off that they were all up for the contest. On the hottest day of the year so far the Village took the game to the home side and dominated early doors. The side forced several corners and from one of these Ritchie saw his header cleared off the line. Then the Village got a free kick just outside the box and Jay saw his effort smash against the bar and get cleared away. Down at the other end Trafalgar had a great chance when one of their forwards was put through but as he tried to go round Jamie he expertly grabbed the ball off his toes to prevent him from scoring. With the game still goalless and fairly even at the interval the Village knew that the way they were playing they still had a great chance of getting something from this game. They continued to dominate the second half and looked to be getting closer and closer to opening the scoring. Colin saw his effort well saved by the keeper and then Dava saw his screamer go just over the bar. Then they thought they might gain an advantage when a Trafalgar defender deliberately handled a though ball to prevent Sweeney from having a clear run at goal. A sending off offence but the ref only gave the player a yellow and even though the Village felt somewhat peeved they could have no complaints as later in the game Sweeney swore at the ref and once again he only produced a yellow card. Finally midway through the half the Village got the goal their domination deserved when the ball fell to Jay in the area and he slotted home via the bottom corner. The Village team and sideline went wild with delight as this was the first time they had managed to score against Trafalgar this season. Could they hold on for a well earned victory as Trafalgar now started to put some pressure on the visitors defence without actually causing any real worries? Then came the defining moment of the game as Sweeney launched an attack down the left and his cross in to the box came off a defender and came agonisingly off the far post. Then ball fell to Les and his shot from an acute angle hit another defender on the line and then bounced around in the six yard box and just as Colin was about to stab home it fell in to the keeper’s arms. The Village lost Jay to an injury soon after and this allowed Trafalgar to creep back in to the game and then they got their break. The ball was played down in to the Village area and a Trafalgar player went to cross it in to the six yard box but as it went towards Booey’s face he instinctively threw his hands up and it hit them. The ref had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and the resulting kick was well converted for the equaliser. Now both sides tried to raise their game for a winner but in didn’t arrive and the weary players were all glad to hear the final whistle so they could go and have a well earned cool drink. So disappointment in the Village as their overall team performance was a good one and probably deserved a win they never got.