FC Village

Report: Willows 2 FC Village 3

The Village's first game of the season saw them play down at Lingham against the Willows in the Wirral Junior Cup and they saw off a determined home side to win with a late winner from Maggot to seal their place in the next round. So a couple of weeks after most of the other teams got their season going the Village kicked off theirs and what a start to the new campaign. Up against one of the more established Div 1 teams the Village were looking at having to choose from a squad of 18 on the Saturday morning of this cup tie. Then they turned up, found the home side wearing their new white kit which clashed with their own new white/black kit and minus 6 players. With the ref forgetting his whistle manager Steve had time to go and get their old grey shirts and so they kicked off with just the one sub in Martin and just one new player to the side.

With the grass very long both sides struggled to get their game going but it was the visitors who enjoyed most of the opening period. After coming close a couple of times through Maggot and Peter they opened the scoring midway through the half when Peter’s free kick reached Booey and although the keeper stopped his header he hammered in the rebound for 1-0. The Village then had two more chances before the half time whistle to extend their lead but Maggot saw his shot hit the keeper then the bar being scrambled away and Machin saw his effort go narrowly wide. Down at the other Jay and his defence were never really troubled as both Nick and Lee were in fine form.

Still leading by that one goal the Village knew that the Willows would come out for the second half in a different mood and they duly took hold of them game. Even though they enjoyed much of the play they never really troubled the Village back line and it took a wonder strike from a free kick for them to draw level. The Village now decided to make their one and only change as they went 4-4-2 with Peter pushed up front and Martin replaced Crozzer switching wings with Kev in the process. The Village at once came alive and started to create the openings which eventually saw them regain the lead with some 10 minutes or so left. Booey set Kev free on the half way line and he raced away to slot past the advancing keeper. The side now tried to shut up shop but minutes later when they were second best in a tackle on the edge of their area a Willows forward drove in a second equalizer and extra time was on the cards. Then Peter got the ball and set Maggot away down the left, amidst cries for off side the ref waved play on and he went on to slot the ball under the keeper to make it 3-2. With a Willows defender get his marching orders for disputing the ref’s decision the Village then found the space to make a couple of more attacks and from one of these Kev should have scored as he rounded the keeper but his cross come shot was knocked in by Maggot only for the ref to give offside this time. It didn’t matter for a few minutes later it was all over and the Village were through to the last 16 where they will play Wirral Wanderers.

Team Line-up

FC Village: Hill: Saunders, Whorton, Wilson, Harper; Machin, McIver, Easterbrook, Doran(Metcalf), Byrne; Eaton
Subs not used:

More photos from this game click here



	Report: Willows 2 FC Village 3 The Village's first game of the season saw them play down at Lingham against the Willows in the Wirral Junior Cup and they saw off a determined home side to win with a late winner from Maggot to seal their place in the next round. So a couple of weeks after most of the other teams got their season going the Village kicked off theirs and what a start to the new campaign. Up against one of the more established Div 1 teams the Village were looking at having to choose from a squad of 18 on the Saturday morning of this cup tie. Then they turned up, found the home side wearing their new white kit which clashed with their own new white/black kit and minus 6 players. With the ref forgetting his whistle manager Steve had time to go and get their old grey shirts and so they kicked off with just the one sub in Martin and just one new player to the side. With the grass very long both sides struggled to get their game going but it was the visitors who enjoyed most of the opening period. After coming close a couple of times through Maggot and Peter they opened the scoring midway through the half when Peter’s free kick reached Booey and although the keeper stopped his header he hammered in the rebound for 1-0. The Village then had two more chances before the half time whistle to extend their lead but Maggot saw his shot hit the keeper then the bar being scrambled away and Machin saw his effort go narrowly wide. Down at the other Jay and his defence were never really troubled as both Nick and Lee were in fine form. Still leading by that one goal the Village knew that the Willows would come out for the second half in a different mood and they duly took hold of them game. Even though they enjoyed much of the play they never really troubled the Village back line and it took a wonder strike from a free kick for them to draw level. The Village now decided to make their one and only change as they went 4-4-2 with Peter pushed up front and Martin replaced Crozzer switching wings with Kev in the process. The Village at once came alive and started to create the openings which eventually saw them regain the lead with some 10 minutes or so left. Booey set Kev free on the half way line and he raced away to slot past the advancing keeper. The side now tried to shut up shop but minutes later when they were second best in a tackle on the edge of their area a Willows forward drove in a second equalizer and extra time was on the cards. Then Peter got the ball and set Maggot away down the left, amidst cries for off side the ref waved play on and he went on to slot the ball under the keeper to make it 3-2. With a Willows defender get his marching orders for disputing the ref’s decision the Village then found the space to make a couple of more attacks and from one of these Kev should have scored as he rounded the keeper but his cross come shot was knocked in by Maggot only for the ref to give offside this time. It didn’t matter for a few minutes later it was all over and the Village were through to the last 16 where they will play Wirral Wanderers. Team Line-up FC Village: Hill: Saunders, Whorton, Wilson, Harper; Machin, McIver, Easterbrook, Doran(Metcalf), Byrne; Eaton Subs not used: More photos from this game click here Wirral Junior Cup Lingham, Saturday 13th September Willows 2 FC Village 3 Easterbrook Machin Eaton