12/08/2009 - Report by Steve Hill

Report: FC Village 0 One O'Clock Gun 4

An understrength Village started the season with a disappointing loss as they were well beaten by the One O'Clock Gun down at a hot and sunny Levers. The start of the new season came one week too early for the Village as they had already lost Paul, Fordy, Rutter, Josh and Ritchie to other events, Maggot and Stewy Mc to injury when Stewy Morrell fell to illness. Then they learnt that new signing Cairnsy was working before Buntzy said that he wanted a transfer and Colin had decided to play at a higher level. They were really down to the bare bones as they had to include 5 players who had signed on to help out on occasions such as this. So Craig Fletcher, Chris Hughes, Ritchie Stenhouse, Scott Morrell and Jamie Beattie all started. They joined Alan making his debut in goal, Dava and Nick in defence, Booey and Danny in midfield, Spud up front and Beattie, Matty and Harper on the bench.

On a hot sunny afternoon down at Levers the side took to the field having found that their pitch was already in use so they had to move to the one next door against the One O’clock Gun who included 4 ex Village players in their line up, plus one unable to play and another who wasn’t there. The outcome of this match may well have been different had the ref not disallowed a goal in the very first minute as Scott’s cross was met by the diving keeper and Jamie and as the ball fell to Booey, he netted only to see the ref blow for an infringement. No one really knew what it was for and they had to wait until after the game to find out as he told them he had seen a push. After that the Village never got going as the visitors dominated and Kano had to make two excellent saves before he was beaten for the opening goal as the Village failed to clear a corner. It was soon 0-2 although there was a suspicion of off side when the player was put through on the half way but he finished with a neat shot. Then the Village had a good chance to get back in to it when Spud got a shot but it went over the bar.

Still trailing at the interval the Village were soon forced to make their first change when Chris got injured and Harper came on. The side huffed and puffed but never really got going and another possible off side goal put the game beyond doubt. The Village now replaced the tiring Dava and Scott with Danny B and Matty and enjoyed a bit more in the way of attacking football. However it wasn’t their day and the Gun crowned a convincing win with a fourth goal just before the end. With Kano deservedly getting the MOM in his first competitive game for 2 years the Village know this could be a long hard season but they must look to sticking together and trying to bring in some quality reinforcements.

Team Line-up: Kane: Saunders(Beattie(D)), Whorton, Fletcher, Hughes(Harper); Beattie(J), Jones, Easterbrook, Stenhouse, Morrell(Scott)(Smith)
Subs not used:- Doran Mobbs

More photos from this game click here