04/10/2009 - Report by Steve Hill

Report: Sheridans 2 FC Village 6

The Village cruised to a fourth win in a row with Matty Smith getting his second hat-trick of the season. Once again the side was decimated by injuries and would suffer another two during this match. With Dava the latest casualty to join the long list and Cairnsy and Ritchie A unavailable the side called up young Andy Mobbs for his debut along with Jamie Beattie and were lucky to see the return of Matty S which left them with the same two subs as the previous game.

The side elected to play with the strong wind behind them for the first half despite this meaning they were going up hill and this would prove pivotal in them gaining the advantage. They made the most of it as they earned some early corners, two of which saw Booey volley just over the bar before they opened the scoring. From the next corner the ball fell to Matty S on the penalty spot and he steered his shot in to the corner for 1-0. It wasn’t long before the side got their first injury as Scott took a knock on his and was replaced by Matty W, a move which saw Stewy move in the centre of midfield. This paid dividends minutes later when from another corner the ball reached Stewy on the edge of the area and he volleyed home in style to double the lead. Straight from the restart a Sheridan’s defender lost control of the ball and Matty S nipped in to race clear and coolly slip the ball past the advancing keeper for 3-0. If this didn’t kill the game for the home side then goal number four just before the interval definitely did as a free kick from Stewy was floated in and Matty S volleyed home for his hat-trick.

The Village now knew that the opening minutes of the second half would be vital as the home side would throw everything at them in the hope of getting back in to the match. However things got even better for the away team as Booey put Matty S clear but instead of trying to notch another goal himself he unselfishly knocked the ball sideways for Matty W to slot in to an empty net for his first goal for the club. Goal number six caused some controversy when from yet another corner Jamie stabbed the ball past the keeper only to see it hacked away by a defender. Some of the Village players appealed that the ball had crossed the line and the ref after looking towards his linesman agreed and blew for the goal. The home side were somewhat upset by this decision but the both the ref and lino stuck to their guns and their task was even harder now. With Ritchie S struggling with injury the Village now gave Jay another outfield run out at right back as Andy moved up to right wing and Jamie moved infield. The Village knew the game and the points were theirs but the home side kept going and got some consolation in scoring two late goals. This was disappointing for the visitors as both of the goals were somewhat sloppy from a defensive view and took some of the shine off what was an excellent display. Still it was a fourth league win in a row as the side moved up to third in the table.

Team Line-up: Kane: Mobbs, Jones, Whorton, Harper; Morrell(SC)(Ward), Beattie(J), Easterbrook, Stenhouse(Hill), Morrell(St); Smith
Subs not used:-

More photos from this game click here