12/08/2009 - Report by Steve Hill

Report: Pre-season Friendlies

The Village eventually played their first friendly after several false starts when they met Sunday side Woodchurch down at Linksview. Most of the side were the usual famalier faces but they gave debuts to goalie Alan Kane and defender Craig Flecther, saw the return of Chris Hughes for a guest appearance and then a debut for Alan Cairns (played for Woody in 1st half) during the 2nd half. A good first workout against a quality team and despite losing 0-3, the Village enjoyed a good amount of the play, had 3 goals disallowed, saw 2 very good penalty appeals turned away and hit the woodwork twice.

Team Line-up: Kane: Hughes, Whorton, Stewart, Harper, Rutter, Williams, Jones, Easterbrook, Morrell, Eaton, Ford, McIvor, Fletcher, Smith, Cairns

More photos from this game click here

Two days later the team were back down at Linksview to play the Willows - Maggots, Paul and Beatties Sunday side. With Kano at work, Harper & Booie ill, Fordy away, Maggot playing for the oppo and Chris and Matty unavailable the side started the game with just the 11. This included Spud and Darren Sample for their first run outs and Danny had to go in goal. Willows opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Stewy scored his first goal for the club to make it 1-1 at half time. It could have gone either way in the second half as the Village introduced two guest players to replace Paul (played for oppo in 2nd half) and Cairnsy (injured) and then Jay came on for one of the guests. In fact it was Jay who assisted with the next goal as Spud took centre stage with two superb left foot efforts from 30 yards out. He curled his first in and drove home his second before Maggot scored right at the death for the Willows. Not the best of games but a good work out again for the side.

Team Line-up: Jones: Whorton, Fletcher, Stewart, Morrell, Rutter, Williams, McIvor, Cairns, Greenfield, Sample, Hill, A Guest, A Guest

2 weeks later the Village played Sunday side Peggys Gadfly down at Linksview and they ran out comfortable winners despite fielding 4 youth players. With half the squad away on holiday the side lost Colin and Harper to work, Rutter to injury and then Kano fialed to show. Therefore they gave run outs to 3 youngsters in Matty Hill, Andy Mobbs and Danny Rainford and saw Josh return to play his first friendly. Crozzer donned a kit for the first time and Edgy had only turned up to watch but went in goal. With the rest being the usuals in Paul, Fordy, Booey, Stewy Mc, and Spud it was a real mixture and they were joined by late arrivals Matty and Ricthie. However this scratch side never looked like losing and once Booey sent Spud clear and he coolly opened the scoring there was only going to be one outcome. With Matty & Ritchie both now on and scoring the game was won by half time. Peggy's pulled a goal back after the restart but the Village got a penalty straight away which Spud converted with ease. Then Booey was on hand to steer home Andy's header from a free kick for 5-1 and finally Spud completed his hat-trick with the best goal of the game as he hammered home a free kick from 25 yards out. A good workout and a special mention to all the youngsters who didn't look out of their depth at all.

Team Line-up:Edge: Mobbs, Stewart, Ford, Rainford, Hill(M), Doran, Easterbrook, McIvor, Dunroe, Greenfield, Smith, Aspey

More photos from this game click here