FC Village

Report: Tower 3 FCVillage 3

As in several other games this season the Village left it very late to salvage a point as Captain Kev Machin notched an injury time equaliser that they truly deserved. With Captain Booey unavailable along with the missing Kenny the Village were glad that Mike G could make his debut in a three man midfield which saw Kevin moved out to the right wing. There were returns for both Leigh and Maggott and then with Ashley announcing he could also make the game, the Village saw the return of one of their former players in JJ who was named as sub alongside Maggott and Mike J.

The Tower certainly looked a far more formidable side than the one the Village had beaten earlier in the season and even though the visitors were confident they could win the game they knew it would be tough. And so it proved when with less than 10 minutes on the clock they let in yet another early goal. Trying to play the ball out of defence the Village gave away a silly throw in, were slow in reacting to a quick throw, got caught out and were one down. So once more a poor start which meant they were again chasing the game but they started to get their own game going and a few chances came their way. They could have levelled things when a corner found Pete’s head but his effort flew over the bar and soon after Ritchie’s turn and shot from the edge of the area went straight to the keeper. Nick was up next but his effort spun well wide when he found himself in a good position and finally Kev weaved his way round a couple of defenders and in to the box but saw his goal bound shot brilliantly saved by the home keeper. With half time looming it looked like the Village would still be trailing by the one goal but then disaster struck and the deficit was doubled. Nick chased a ball with a Tower forward in to the area and towards the goal line and when they both tried to shoulder barge each other off the ball because Nick was the stronger, the Tower player went to ground and the ref for some reason pointed to the spot. Amid protests from the visitors the spot kick was converted and the home side must have felt comfortable with their 2-0 lead.

When Tower increased their lead to three soon after the restart resulting from an attack down the left as the Village failed to clear and the ball was pulled back at the far post for a forward to stab in from close range it looked like game set and match. However the Village had other ideas although at first it just looked like it was going to be one of those days. With Maggot on for Victor and Kev pushed up front the Village reverted to 4-4-2 and they took the game to the home side. The chances started to arrive but the shots were just going wide and then when they got one on target they found the keeper in fine form as he made another good save. With time ticking away the Village subbed Mike G with JJ and finally got the break they needed with just fifteen minutes left. Kev who was having a fine game beat a couple of players in a mazy run inside the box and crashed the ball home off the underside of the bar. Just a consolation? No, as they kept pushing and with some 5 minutes remaining Maggot got the ball down on the goal line inside the box where he neatly beat his defender to get in a shot. The keeper saved but Maggot followed up and drilled in at the far post to make it 2-3 to score on his return. Then with the game just going in to injury time the Village got a corner and with every one up in the hope of a last chance there was an almighty goalmouth scramble and there was Kev who just beat Leigh to the ball and it was in the back of the net to round off a superb comeback. The visitors celebrated as though they had won the cup but they had deserved something from this game even if it was just one point.

Team Line-up

FC Village: Hill: Wilson, Whorton, Hutton, Harper; Machin, Gormley(Harrison), Aspey, Oldam, Byrne; Thurgill(Eaton)
Subs not used: Jones

More photos from this game click here



	Report: Tower 3 FCVillage 3 As in several other games this season the Village left it very late to salvage a point as Captain Kev Machin notched an injury time equaliser that they truly deserved. With Captain Booey unavailable along with the missing Kenny the Village were glad that Mike G could make his debut in a three man midfield which saw Kevin moved out to the right wing. There were returns for both Leigh and Maggott and then with Ashley announcing he could also make the game, the Village saw the return of one of their former players in JJ who was named as sub alongside Maggott and Mike J. The Tower certainly looked a far more formidable side than the one the Village had beaten earlier in the season and even though the visitors were confident they could win the game they knew it would be tough. And so it proved when with less than 10 minutes on the clock they let in yet another early goal. Trying to play the ball out of defence the Village gave away a silly throw in, were slow in reacting to a quick throw, got caught out and were one down. So once more a poor start which meant they were again chasing the game but they started to get their own game going and a few chances came their way. They could have levelled things when a corner found Pete’s head but his effort flew over the bar and soon after Ritchie’s turn and shot from the edge of the area went straight to the keeper. Nick was up next but his effort spun well wide when he found himself in a good position and finally Kev weaved his way round a couple of defenders and in to the box but saw his goal bound shot brilliantly saved by the home keeper. With half time looming it looked like the Village would still be trailing by the one goal but then disaster struck and the deficit was doubled. Nick chased a ball with a Tower forward in to the area and towards the goal line and when they both tried to shoulder barge each other off the ball because Nick was the stronger, the Tower player went to ground and the ref for some reason pointed to the spot. Amid protests from the visitors the spot kick was converted and the home side must have felt comfortable with their 2-0 lead. When Tower increased their lead to three soon after the restart resulting from an attack down the left as the Village failed to clear and the ball was pulled back at the far post for a forward to stab in from close range it looked like game set and match. However the Village had other ideas although at first it just looked like it was going to be one of those days. With Maggot on for Victor and Kev pushed up front the Village reverted to 4-4-2 and they took the game to the home side. The chances started to arrive but the shots were just going wide and then when they got one on target they found the keeper in fine form as he made another good save. With time ticking away the Village subbed Mike G with JJ and finally got the break they needed with just fifteen minutes left. Kev who was having a fine game beat a couple of players in a mazy run inside the box and crashed the ball home off the underside of the bar. Just a consolation? No, as they kept pushing and with some 5 minutes remaining Maggot got the ball down on the goal line inside the box where he neatly beat his defender to get in a shot. The keeper saved but Maggot followed up and drilled in at the far post to make it 2-3 to score on his return. Then with the game just going in to injury time the Village got a corner and with every one up in the hope of a last chance there was an almighty goalmouth scramble and there was Kev who just beat Leigh to the ball and it was in the back of the net to round off a superb comeback. The visitors celebrated as though they had won the cup but they had deserved something from this game even if it was just one point. Team Line-up FC Village: Hill: Wilson, Whorton, Hutton, Harper; Machin, Gormley(Harrison), Aspey, Oldam, Byrne; Thurgill(Eaton) Subs not used: Jones More photos from this game click here Birkenhead & Wirral AFL Div 2 Central Park, Saturday 5th January Tower 3 FC Village 3 Machin(2) Eaton