FC Village

Report: FC Village 2 Shaftesbury 1

No Valentine Day massacre here as the Village just scrapped past an aged but experienced Shaftesbury side to get themelves back on the winning trail. It looked like there might be team selection problems for although the side were missing the unavailable Booey and Harper (family do) and Jay (broke his arm on the Thu) they had Colin there for his long awaited debut, new boy Chris Brennan and a new keeper in Andy Davies. However the goalie was ill so Crozzer after a couple of years out from playing between the sticks had to don the keeper’s jersey and then Dava, Beattie and Stewy Morrell all failed to turn up after a long session the night before. This meant Anthony had to switch to right back, Fordy returned to left back, Chris slotted in on the right wing and in a 4-4-2 formation Rutter joined Maggot up top. This left Peter, Knoxy and Colin as the main subs with Spud and Dava Hughes there just in case.

Good to get playing on a half decent surface after experiencing some bogs of late the Village knew that it was youth and enthusiasm up against old heads and experience in Shaftesbury. They started brightly and dominated the early play but the final pass or cross just wasn’t up to scratch and a couple of times they did break free the players and in particular Danny were hacked down but this was more to do with lack of pace rather than being blatant. Rutter probably had the best chance in this period but the ball bounced off his knee after Danny’s header had come back off the bar. With the free kicks being wasted the Village were just waiting for the one moment they needed and this came when Maggot was sent clear on the half way line and he raced away to coolly round the keeper and slot home his 16th goal of the season to open the scoring. Down at the other end the visitors attack held the ball up well but nothing came of it and they never tested Crozzer in the home goal. Then out the blue the ref awarded Shafts a free kick on the left of the Village area and the ball was floated in for a forward to head home the equaliser.

Still level at the turn around the Village knew they would have to step up a gear if they wanted to secure the win. However they failed to find that extra gear and it took a triple substitution ten minutes after the restart to kick the team in to life. Peter, Knoxy and Colin (for his debut) replaced McIvor, Chris and Rutter and suddenly the Village came to life and started to make in roads on the Shafts goal. A great move ended with Mikey being given offside as he fired over the bar and then came the decisive moment of the match as the Village grabbed their second and the winning goal. It was a near replica of their first as this time Colin sent Maggot clear and he raced away and this time slotted the ball home via the far upright for 2-1. The Village then had a couple of chances to secure the win but failed to do so and with them sitting very deep it allowed the visitors to stay in the game. Shafts may have forced the issue towards the end but despite getting the ball in the back of the net which was ruled out for offside they never otherwise threatened Crozzer in the home goal. This meant the Village were fairly comfortable in seeing the game out and they had got back to winning ways after those two defeats. Now they have to build on this over the next couple of weeks. The club wish Jay a speedy recovery in his bid to get back fit ready for next season.

Team Line-up

FC Village: Doran: Morris, Whorton, Stewart, Ford; Brennan(Knox), Jones, McIvor(Williams), Kearney; Rutter(Byrne), Eaton
Subs not used: Greenfield, Hughes

More photos from this game click here



	Report: FC Village 2 Shaftesbury 1 No Valentine Day massacre here as the Village just scrapped past an aged but experienced Shaftesbury side to get themelves back on the winning trail. It looked like there might be team selection problems for although the side were missing the unavailable Booey and Harper (family do) and Jay (broke his arm on the Thu) they had Colin there for his long awaited debut, new boy Chris Brennan and a new keeper in Andy Davies. However the goalie was ill so Crozzer after a couple of years out from playing between the sticks had to don the keeper’s jersey and then Dava, Beattie and Stewy Morrell all failed to turn up after a long session the night before. This meant Anthony had to switch to right back, Fordy returned to left back, Chris slotted in on the right wing and in a 4-4-2 formation Rutter joined Maggot up top. This left Peter, Knoxy and Colin as the main subs with Spud and Dava Hughes there just in case. Good to get playing on a half decent surface after experiencing some bogs of late the Village knew that it was youth and enthusiasm up against old heads and experience in Shaftesbury. They started brightly and dominated the early play but the final pass or cross just wasn’t up to scratch and a couple of times they did break free the players and in particular Danny were hacked down but this was more to do with lack of pace rather than being blatant. Rutter probably had the best chance in this period but the ball bounced off his knee after Danny’s header had come back off the bar. With the free kicks being wasted the Village were just waiting for the one moment they needed and this came when Maggot was sent clear on the half way line and he raced away to coolly round the keeper and slot home his 16th goal of the season to open the scoring. Down at the other end the visitors attack held the ball up well but nothing came of it and they never tested Crozzer in the home goal. Then out the blue the ref awarded Shafts a free kick on the left of the Village area and the ball was floated in for a forward to head home the equaliser. Still level at the turn around the Village knew they would have to step up a gear if they wanted to secure the win. However they failed to find that extra gear and it took a triple substitution ten minutes after the restart to kick the team in to life. Peter, Knoxy and Colin (for his debut) replaced McIvor, Chris and Rutter and suddenly the Village came to life and started to make in roads on the Shafts goal. A great move ended with Mikey being given offside as he fired over the bar and then came the decisive moment of the match as the Village grabbed their second and the winning goal. It was a near replica of their first as this time Colin sent Maggot clear and he raced away and this time slotted the ball home via the far upright for 2-1. The Village then had a couple of chances to secure the win but failed to do so and with them sitting very deep it allowed the visitors to stay in the game. Shafts may have forced the issue towards the end but despite getting the ball in the back of the net which was ruled out for offside they never otherwise threatened Crozzer in the home goal. This meant the Village were fairly comfortable in seeing the game out and they had got back to winning ways after those two defeats. Now they have to build on this over the next couple of weeks. The club wish Jay a speedy recovery in his bid to get back fit ready for next season. Team Line-up FC Village: Doran: Morris, Whorton, Stewart, Ford; Brennan(Knox), Jones, McIvor(Williams), Kearney; Rutter(Byrne), Eaton Subs not used: Greenfield, Hughes More photos from this game click here Birkenhead & Wirral AFL Div 1 Levers, Saturday 14th February FC Village 2 Eaton(2) Shaftesbury 1