Report: FCVillage 1 Future 4

The Village lost their unbeaten home as they went down to the Divisions hot favourites and current leaders down at Levers. For this home fixture the Village had lost Nick to a previous engagement which meant that manager Steve had to reshuffle his back four for the first time since their opening fixture. With Cottier available for the first time this season and having played at the back before the decision was made to slot him in at centre half, leaving the rest of them in their usual positions. To give him some added protection and as Victor may not show Steve brought Timmy back in to a 5 man midfield leaving Maggot up front on his own.

Both sides made a cautious start as they fought to gain control and it was a good ten minutes before the first clear chance arrived and it went to the home side. Maggot found himself with time and space on the edge of the area but placed his shot wide of the keeper and the post and he would repeat this a bit later but this time the ball had fallen to his weaker right foot. In between the visitors started to assert some pressure on the home side and after forcing several corners they opened the scoring but from a quick breakaway. Their impressive forward held off the challenge of Cottier as the ball went over them and he ran on to slot home for 1-0. The Village just couldn’t get their wing play going and a number of players certainly looked affected with the familiarity between both sides. They did create a couple of half chances along with that Maggot effort but it was Future who extended their lead just before the interval. From a corner the ball came over and Cottiers attempted clearance was blocked by a Future player and the ball flew in to the net to increase their lead.

The half time talk was for the team to get stuck in and give it their all and this is just what they did. They came out in a far more determined mood and after a decent spell of pressure they reduced the arrears with a well taken goal. Dava won the ball midway in the Future half and sent over a cross which was expertly headed home by Booey to make it 1-2. The Village now brought Victor on to bolster the attack as they attempted to try and get something out of this clash. Future were still enjoying their fair share of the game but the Village back line was constantly catching them offside until the one time when it mattered. The ball was played through and with the defence appealing the ref decided to let play go this time and a Future player ran on and saw his effort bobble in to the net to give them a much needed breather. Having sacrificed one central midfielder in the attempt to draw level the Village suddenly lost their 2 other players in Booey and Timmy as they went off injured virtually one after the other to be replaced by Fowler and Martin. With the team all over the place Future made the most of it as their opening scorer latched on to a long ball and lobbed home for a fourth and final goal. The game was won and it was just left for the Village to salvage some pride in the time that was left. So a disappointing result but what made things worse was that the side know they didn’t turn up on the day and Future didn’t really have to play that well themselves to win the match.

Team Line-up

FC Village: Hill: Saunders, Cottier, Hutton, Wilson; Murphy, Leeds (Metcalf), Doran (Thurgill), Machin; Boden (Fowler), Eaton
Sub not used: Harper, Church

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