19/10/2009 - Report by Steve Hill

Report: New Brighton 2 FC Village 1

The Village crashed to their first defeat in 7 games as they narrowly lost down at New Brighton. Once again the side were missing several influential players and this proved costly although a spirited second half probably merited a draw. With all the injuries they have and people working or away the team were forced to sign another two players before kick off as Knoxy made his return to the club and would get a starting role and Nick Watkinson would come on as a sub for his debut.

On one of the decent playing surfaces in the League it was the home side that started the better of the two sides and they would go on and dominate the first half. The Village forced several corners and had a few free kicks just outside the box but they never really came to anything and it was the home team who got their reward for their dominance when a corner was headed in at the far post to give them a first half lead.

Trailing at the turn around the visitors knew they would have to go up a gear and this they did almost immediately from the restart. With McIvor going off injured not long in to the second period and Mobbs on his place the Village swapped things around and were suddenly forcing the issue. Mobbs came close with an angled rive that grazed the far post and then Matty S saw the keeper pull off a fine save to deny him. Finally the Village were rewarded for their hard work when from a corner the ball fell to Matty S with his back to goal and he swivelled to fire home for 1-1. The side now believed they could go on and win the game but a mistake in defence would cost them dearly. A through ball was allowed to reach an attacker and when the Village defence failed to get in a tackle he was able to knock the ball wide of Kano and New Brighton were ahead again. The Village now brought Nick on for his debut and went all out for that second equaliser. With less than 10 minutes left they thought they had done it when a cross in from the left was nodded home by Nick at the far post but the ref said he had seen a push as Nick, a couple of defenders and the goalie jumped up for the ball. With the ref blowing for a free kick instead of a goal the home defence were somewhat relieved as none of them had appealed for an infringement and the Village were left to rue the eagle eyed ref. Then virtually on full time a wonder strike from Matty W some 25 yards out was heading for the back of the net but somehow it was tipped over the bar by the home keeper and the Village knew that this wasn’t their day. Seconds later it was all over and their unbeaten run was gone.

Team Line-up: Kane: Saunders, Whorton, Beattie(D), Harper; Knox, Beattie(J), Easterbrook, McIvor(Mobbs), Morrell(Sc)(Watkinson); Smith(Ward)
Subs not used:-

More photos from this game click here