26/09/2009 - Report by Steve Hill

Report: FC Village 2 Universal Windows 1

An injury ravaged Village side made it 3 wins in a row as they overcame a stubborn Universal Windows down at Levers although the final scoreline didn't reflect thier dominance. With 7 players out injured, 2 unavailable and another 2 leaving they had to sign on 1 new player and put their large squad to its full use. The Village lost Paul (operation), Matty S (away for weekend) and Cairnsy (work) so drafted in Craig Davies at centre back as Beattie was still injured for his debut, put Stewy out on the wing with Harper in at left back and got Ritchie S to play up top on his own. This left the side with just the one sub in Matty W so Jay put a kit on and he would get a chance to make his comeback during the interval.

The side made a really bright opening in the first few minutes with the best chance going to Danny when his goal bound header after a flowing move looked all the way to be going in until the Universal keeper made a flying finger tip save. This wouldn’t be his last save either as he would go on to be the visiting MOM with several other excellent stops. The Village were in full flow and creating lots of chances but when Stewy hit the post with a curling effort they must have started to wonder if it was going to be one of those days. Then a Stewy free kick was curled in to the far post where the unmarked Booey headed back across the goal and in to the net for 1-0. Soon after the Village thought they had extended their lead when from a corner Ritchie A stabbed home from close range after the keeper had saved a shot but for some reason the ref disallowed it for offside. Down at the other end Kano was never really troubled with Craig settling in really well in the back four. So at the interval things were looking good except for the mounting injury list for Dava had already gone off to be replaced by Matty W midway through the half with Scott dropping in at right back. During half time Danny said his ankle that he had turned in the opening minutes was bad so Jay would get his first game for nearly a year and in an outfield position as well. He went to right back, Scott moved back to the wing and as Matty W was now on the left wing Stewy moved up front with Ritchie S.

The second half saw the Village continue to dominate and they should have been well out of sight if they had brought their shooting boots along. Having said that the keeper did make a few good saves but the two Ritchie’s, Stewy and Scott all missed when well placed. Stewy then repeated his hit the post routine from the first half when he saw his free kick bounce off the woodwork before he settled the match with a second goal. This time a corner came in and when the keeper failed to hold on to the it, it fell to Stewy who rifled home much to his delight and the teams relief. The game looked to have been won now but when the Village failed to clear a Windows attack and they scored the last 7 minutes was a bit nerve racking. Matty W had a gilt edge chance to kill them off but rolled his effort wide and then saw an effort ruled out for offside before the ref finally blew for full time and it was another 2 points for the ever improving Village side.

Team Line-up: Kane: Saunders(Ward), Whorton, Davies, Harper; Morrell(Sc), Easterbrook, Aspey, Jones(Hill), Morrell(St); Stenhouse
Subs not used:-

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