FC Village

Report: FC Village 4 Parkfield 3

What a game! This was the comeback of all comebacks as the Village trailed 0-3 with an hour gone only to come back and score four goals with the winner coming in the 94th minute. Apart from Harper, Beattie, Fordy and Stewy Morrell the Village had a near full strength squad to choose from and this was a game the side wanted to win as Parkfield had nicked the two points in the opening game of the season after the Village had dominated the match. So it was a 4-5-1 line up with Andy Davies making his debut in goal and what a debut that turned out to be, with the usual back four, Rutter was wide right in an otherwise usual midfield with Maggot up top on his own.

With the pitch having been rolled in midweek and in good nick the Village kicked off and couldn’t believe what happened in the opening ten minutes. The home team had already come close themselves to opening the scoring in the very first minute but Maggot saw his goal bound shot well blocked by a defender. Then a long punt up field caused confusion in the Village defence as both Paul and keeper Andy shouted “my ball” and they collided on the edge of the area. The ball had come off the top of Paul’s head and left the Parkfield striker the simple task of tapping in to an unguarded net for 1-0. Minutes later a back pass from Paul to Andy saw the ball slice off his boot straight to the same Parkfield striker and this time he had to get past Andy and Nick on the line before slotting in for his and the teams second. Unbelievably the next back pass Andy got resulted in the same thing but this time he and his defenders managed to clear the ball away. Things looked bleak for the Village but they were still creating the chances themselves as Maggot thundered a header against the post and then Danny found himself free in front of goal but screwed his shot wide. Other chances came and went and the home side were still trailing 0-2 at the interval.

A lot of things were said during the break but for the opening period it made no difference and then it looked like game set and match to Parkfield. One of their forwards burst in to the area and Nick went in for the tackle but brought him down and the ref pointed to the spot. The kick was duly converted for 0-3 and the Village were in deep trouble. Time for a change in the home line up as McIvor and Rutter were replaced by Colin and Buntsy and suddenly everything changed for the Village. Saying that when Booey netted the first goal five minutes later as he forced home a corner from close range it still looked as though it might just be a consolation effort. The home side started to force the issue as Colin took control of the midfield with Mikey and Buntsy dominating the wings. Booey had a great chance to get a second as a great through ball left him in space but he lobbed the keeper and the bar. Colin came close to opening his account but his shot went just wide and Danny brought a good save from the keeper with a header. It was all Village and they finally got their reward with a second goal when Booey again from a corner but this time he rifled his shot home. Game on now and a comeback was on the cards as the side grew in confidence with every minute that went by. With Dava carrying a knock the Village now threw on Knoxy to pair Maggot up front with Danny dropping in to the back four and Nick pushing out to full back. The equaliser came some ten minutes from the end when a great through ball saw Mikey race on it and off towards the Parkfield goal. As the keeper came out Mikey coolly slotted home with his right foot and the sides were all square again. Could they now get the winner? The Village were really forcing it now and as the ref said there was six minutes of injury time they threw everything at the Parkfield defence. They forced a couple of corners and from the second one the ball reached Mikey at the far post and he volleyed home in style. The Village team went wild as all the other players including keeper Andy piled on top of scorer Mikey and even the line of management, subs and reserves were jumping up and down with joy. They had done it but there was still time for Parkfield to get a free kick near the Village goal but when the cross was headed over the bar the home side knew that the win was theirs. Seconds later the ref blew for full time and an amazing comeback had been completed.

Team Line-up

FC Village: Davies: Saunders(Knox), Whorton, Stewart, Byrne; Rutter(Brennan), Jones, McIvor(Williams), Easterbrook, Kearney; Eaton
Subs not used: Greenfield, Beattie

More photos from this game click here



	Report: FC Village 4 Parkfield 3 What a game! This was the comeback of all comebacks as the Village trailed 0-3 with an hour gone only to come back and score four goals with the winner coming in the 94th minute. Apart from Harper, Beattie, Fordy and Stewy Morrell the Village had a near full strength squad to choose from and this was a game the side wanted to win as Parkfield had nicked the two points in the opening game of the season after the Village had dominated the match. So it was a 4-5-1 line up with Andy Davies making his debut in goal and what a debut that turned out to be, with the usual back four, Rutter was wide right in an otherwise usual midfield with Maggot up top on his own. With the pitch having been rolled in midweek and in good nick the Village kicked off and couldn’t believe what happened in the opening ten minutes. The home team had already come close themselves to opening the scoring in the very first minute but Maggot saw his goal bound shot well blocked by a defender. Then a long punt up field caused confusion in the Village defence as both Paul and keeper Andy shouted “my ball” and they collided on the edge of the area. The ball had come off the top of Paul’s head and left the Parkfield striker the simple task of tapping in to an unguarded net for 1-0. Minutes later a back pass from Paul to Andy saw the ball slice off his boot straight to the same Parkfield striker and this time he had to get past Andy and Nick on the line before slotting in for his and the teams second. Unbelievably the next back pass Andy got resulted in the same thing but this time he and his defenders managed to clear the ball away. Things looked bleak for the Village but they were still creating the chances themselves as Maggot thundered a header against the post and then Danny found himself free in front of goal but screwed his shot wide. Other chances came and went and the home side were still trailing 0-2 at the interval. A lot of things were said during the break but for the opening period it made no difference and then it looked like game set and match to Parkfield. One of their forwards burst in to the area and Nick went in for the tackle but brought him down and the ref pointed to the spot. The kick was duly converted for 0-3 and the Village were in deep trouble. Time for a change in the home line up as McIvor and Rutter were replaced by Colin and Buntsy and suddenly everything changed for the Village. Saying that when Booey netted the first goal five minutes later as he forced home a corner from close range it still looked as though it might just be a consolation effort. The home side started to force the issue as Colin took control of the midfield with Mikey and Buntsy dominating the wings. Booey had a great chance to get a second as a great through ball left him in space but he lobbed the keeper and the bar. Colin came close to opening his account but his shot went just wide and Danny brought a good save from the keeper with a header. It was all Village and they finally got their reward with a second goal when Booey again from a corner but this time he rifled his shot home. Game on now and a comeback was on the cards as the side grew in confidence with every minute that went by. With Dava carrying a knock the Village now threw on Knoxy to pair Maggot up front with Danny dropping in to the back four and Nick pushing out to full back. The equaliser came some ten minutes from the end when a great through ball saw Mikey race on it and off towards the Parkfield goal. As the keeper came out Mikey coolly slotted home with his right foot and the sides were all square again. Could they now get the winner? The Village were really forcing it now and as the ref said there was six minutes of injury time they threw everything at the Parkfield defence. They forced a couple of corners and from the second one the ball reached Mikey at the far post and he volleyed home in style. The Village team went wild as all the other players including keeper Andy piled on top of scorer Mikey and even the line of management, subs and reserves were jumping up and down with joy. They had done it but there was still time for Parkfield to get a free kick near the Village goal but when the cross was headed over the bar the home side knew that the win was theirs. Seconds later the ref blew for full time and an amazing comeback had been completed. Team Line-up FC Village: Davies: Saunders(Knox), Whorton, Stewart, Byrne; Rutter(Brennan), Jones, McIvor(Williams), Easterbrook, Kearney; Eaton Subs not used: Greenfield, Beattie More photos from this game click here Birkenhead & Wirral AFL Div 1 Levers, Saturday 21st February FC Village 4 Easterbrook(2) Kearney(2) Parkfield 3