FC Village

Report: Central Park 2 FCVillage 4

After a 3 week lay off due to the bad weather and free weeks the Village got back to the action and on their return to Central Park beat the home side to record the double over them. The Village were keen to get back playing and apart from Dava who is still away in the Falklands they probably fielded their first eleven. However they only had the one sub in Harper who was carrying an injury as several of the others failed to show.

Not wanting to give their opponents a head start as in a couple of recent games the Village made the best possible start. With less than 2 minutes gone Jay's long goal kick was flicked on by Booey to Kev who raced away and clipped the ball past the advancing keeper for the opening goal. It wasn't long before they doubled their lead as they took the game to the home side when JJ cut in from the left and drilled home a great shot via the foot of the far post. The home side tried to get their game going but it was the visitors who dominated and they were rewarded for their dominance with a third goal inside the opening half hour. Another long kick from Jay was flicked on this time by Maggot to Booey who just beat the keeper to the ball on the edge of the area where he nudged it past him and as he fell to the ground he knocked it in to an empty net. The Village were cruising and should have added a fourth goal when just before the interval JJ’s cross field ball found Ashley who volleyed home only for the ref to rule it out for offside. He must have been the only person to think it was offside and this was one of several strange decisions he made throughout the game including the time when he refused Booey to come back on the field with some cotton wool up his nostrils as he tried to hold back a nose bleed. So with the home side showing little in the way of any notable attacks the Village deservedly led 3-0 at the interval.

With Booey back on the pitch having sorted his nose out it came as a surprise to see the home side take hold of the game from the restart as their long ball tactics started causing the visitors some problems. It wasn’t long before one of these was headed out by the Village defence straight to their centre forward who volleyed home in style to open their account. Central were up for it now and even though the Village still enjoyed a fair amount of the play most of the shots went straight to the home keeper who then booted it down field. This put a lot of pressure on the back four but they were holding firm as Jay made a good save before his groin gave way which resulted in Central getting the chance to double their tally. Another long ball was chased by their centre forward and as he raced in to the box but away from goal Jay came out to try and stop him. With his groin hampering him he was slow in his reactions and brought the forward down. A definite penalty but would the ref send him off especially as he had already booked a couple of players for really petty things? No was the answer, a yellow card and the penalty was converted to make it 2-3 to the Village. The Village knew they had to do something to stop Central from making a great comeback and they did the best possible thing by scoring a fourth goal. JJ and Pete had been enjoying a fair bit of success down the left all day and from yet another foray in to the Central area the ball was crossed beyond the far post where Ashley lobbed it back in and there was Kev to nod in from close range for his second of the game. That sealed the two points for although both sides had more chances neither team could add to their tally. Jay made another good save just when it looked like Harper might have to replace him in goal and the defence came to terms with the long boot up field. The Village had openings themselves but never really tested the home keeper and the game petered out it with the score remaining 4-2 to the visitors. So another win as the Village attempt to consolidate their second place although they’ve played more games than their closest rivals and now they face Div 1 leaders Bird in Hand in the quarter final of the Regent Cup in their next match.

Team Line-up

FC Village: Hill: Wilson, Whorton, Hutton, Byrne; Oldam, Aspey, Leeds, Harrison; Eaton, Machin
Subs not used: Harper

More photos from this game click here



	Report: Central Park 2 FCVillage 4 After a 3 week lay off due to the bad weather and free weeks the Village got back to the action and on their return to Central Park beat the home side to record the double over them. The Village were keen to get back playing and apart from Dava who is still away in the Falklands they probably fielded their first eleven. However they only had the one sub in Harper who was carrying an injury as several of the others failed to show. Not wanting to give their opponents a head start as in a couple of recent games the Village made the best possible start. With less than 2 minutes gone Jay's long goal kick was flicked on by Booey to Kev who raced away and clipped the ball past the advancing keeper for the opening goal. It wasn't long before they doubled their lead as they took the game to the home side when JJ cut in from the left and drilled home a great shot via the foot of the far post. The home side tried to get their game going but it was the visitors who dominated and they were rewarded for their dominance with a third goal inside the opening half hour. Another long kick from Jay was flicked on this time by Maggot to Booey who just beat the keeper to the ball on the edge of the area where he nudged it past him and as he fell to the ground he knocked it in to an empty net. The Village were cruising and should have added a fourth goal when just before the interval JJ’s cross field ball found Ashley who volleyed home only for the ref to rule it out for offside. He must have been the only person to think it was offside and this was one of several strange decisions he made throughout the game including the time when he refused Booey to come back on the field with some cotton wool up his nostrils as he tried to hold back a nose bleed. So with the home side showing little in the way of any notable attacks the Village deservedly led 3-0 at the interval. With Booey back on the pitch having sorted his nose out it came as a surprise to see the home side take hold of the game from the restart as their long ball tactics started causing the visitors some problems. It wasn’t long before one of these was headed out by the Village defence straight to their centre forward who volleyed home in style to open their account. Central were up for it now and even though the Village still enjoyed a fair amount of the play most of the shots went straight to the home keeper who then booted it down field. This put a lot of pressure on the back four but they were holding firm as Jay made a good save before his groin gave way which resulted in Central getting the chance to double their tally. Another long ball was chased by their centre forward and as he raced in to the box but away from goal Jay came out to try and stop him. With his groin hampering him he was slow in his reactions and brought the forward down. A definite penalty but would the ref send him off especially as he had already booked a couple of players for really petty things? No was the answer, a yellow card and the penalty was converted to make it 2-3 to the Village. The Village knew they had to do something to stop Central from making a great comeback and they did the best possible thing by scoring a fourth goal. JJ and Pete had been enjoying a fair bit of success down the left all day and from yet another foray in to the Central area the ball was crossed beyond the far post where Ashley lobbed it back in and there was Kev to nod in from close range for his second of the game. That sealed the two points for although both sides had more chances neither team could add to their tally. Jay made another good save just when it looked like Harper might have to replace him in goal and the defence came to terms with the long boot up field. The Village had openings themselves but never really tested the home keeper and the game petered out it with the score remaining 4-2 to the visitors. So another win as the Village attempt to consolidate their second place although they’ve played more games than their closest rivals and now they face Div 1 leaders Bird in Hand in the quarter final of the Regent Cup in their next match. Team Line-up FC Village: Hill: Wilson, Whorton, Hutton, Byrne; Oldam, Aspey, Leeds, Harrison; Eaton, Machin Subs not used: Harper More photos from this game click here Birkenhead & Wirral AFL Div 2 Central Park, Saturday 2nd February Central Park 2 FC Village 4 Machin(2) Leeds Harrison