12/09/2009 - Report by Steve Hill

Report: FC Village 3 Birkenhead FC 1

The Village gained their first win of the season with a hard fought win over Birkenhead FC as the two Alan's, Cairnsy and Kano put in a great display at both ends of the pitch. With Paul and Nick unavailable the team was forced in to a major defensive change as Danny partnered Fordy in the centre who had come in for his first game of the season. Elsewhere there was a debut for Alan Cairns, a first game of this campaign for Ritchie Aspey and the bench saw new signing Matthew Ward join Fletcher and he would get his chance in the second half.

On a hot and sunny day with the pitch in good nick the Village made the best possible start as they were ahead inside the first 10 minutes. Crozzer’s in-swinging corner caused the Birkenhead keeper problems at the near post and as it fell from his grasp there was Booey to poke home his first goal of the season. The visitors were soon in to their stride after this early setback and Danny made some great last ditch tackles to keep them at bay. When he and the rest of the defence did get breached there was Kano and he must have pulled off at least 3 one on ones to stop Birkenhead from scoring. However their pressure eventually paid off when a raid down the left ended with one of the visiting forwards sweeping home for the equaliser. It hadn’t all been pressure from them as the Village with Cairnsy, Josh and Matty S were enjoying good games and the Birkenhead keeper had to make a good save to keep out a free kick from Stewy Morrell.

Still level at the interval the game could have really gone either way but it was the home side that took the initiative as they took control in the early stages of the second half. The Village had replaced the injured Josh (although this was only a minor problem for him compared to what was going to happen to him the next day) with Matty W for his first appearance and along with Cairnsy they were causing Birkenhead loads of problems from the wing. With Cairnsy weaving his magic down the right he was rewarded when he cut in and then beat three players in a mazy dribble that ended with him firing past the keeper for 2-1. Minutes later things got even better as Dava chased a long ball down the right in to the corner and even though the defender got there first he kept chasing. He followed the defenders pass across goal for the keeper and drew level with him as he was going to clear up field which resulted in the ball hitting him and going straight back past a startled goalie in to the net. Not one of Dava’s most memorable goals but he had increased their lead and given them some breathing space. In a good spell for the Village both Matty S and Cairnsy had chances to put the game beyond the reach of the visitors but both of their shots went narrowly wide. With Fletcher now on for Danny the side now had to dig in deep as Birkenhead got hold of the game and dominated to the end. However with the back four and keeper Kano in particular keeping them at bay the Village saw out the match without conceding and had got their first win of the season. A hard fought win but well earned which hopefully should help them to progress from now on.

Team Line-up: Kane: Saunders, Jones (Fletcher), Ford, Morrell(St); Cairns, Doran, Easterbrook, Aspey, Dunroe (Ward), Smith
Subs not used:-

More photos from this game click here