29/10/2011 - Report by Steve Hill

Report: FC Village 2 Groves 5

Someone's 100% record had to go and unfortunately for the Village it was theirs as they put in a poor defensive display despite playing attractive attacking football at times. The Village were forced in to just two changes from the previous week as Paddy and Mikey were unavailable so Leigh Houghton slotted in a full back and there was a welcome return on the left wing to Billy for his first game of the season after a lengthy layoff due to injury as Josh moved over to the right side. This left 5 subs on the bench in the form of Maggot, Sean, John, Beren and new signing Jim Bob hoping to get his first run out for the side this year.

The opening goal is always important but an early one is even better and down at Levers it’s usually the home side that gets it but today wasn’t going to go with plan and it set the tone for the rest of the match. A lapse in concentration saw the Groves first attack end in a corner and when from the resulting cross the Village defence was all over the place and the ball was knocked in for the opener. Things got worse several minutes later when the defence got themselves in a mix up and goal number two was scored. The Village started to get their game going now and started to make some neat passing moves using Billy, Dava, Iain and Adam. However they never really penetrated the Groves defence before Groves virtually sealed the points with a third goal before half time. The Village did have the ball in the net themselves when Matty slotted home but the ref gave him offside but it was very close. Had they gone in at the interval 1-3 down instead of 0-3 things may well have been different as they dominated much of the second half.

With the ineffective Josh being replaced by Sean on the right the Village really took the game to their opponents but that early goal they wanted evaded them. They eventually did score when Sean sent over a cross that Matty somehow screwed over and past the keeper with his head. Could they claw their way back in to it and in attempt to do this they brought Maggot on for Dava and went with two up top. However their enthusiasm was short lived as Groves broke away to score a fourth goal which saw the Village go three at the back as Jim Bob came on as he replaced Peter V. They were still taking the game to Groves but another breakaway saw the visitors score a fifth goal although the Village had the final say with a well worked goal as Sean and Jim Bob set up Matty to slot home just before the end for his third brace in a row. Minutes later it was all over and the Village’s 100% record was gone and the Village know they must improve defensively starting at the forward line if they want to make an impression this season.

Team Line-up: Hill(J): Vaughan(Thomas(J), Irvine, Stewart, Houghton; Dunroe(Phillips), Thomas(I), n), Coulls(A), Lyon(Eaton), Devey(B); Smith
Subs not used:- Moylan, Wellman

More photos from this game click here