09/10/2011 - Report by Steve Hill

Report: Kelma 3 FC Village 2

The Village may have gone out of the Wirral Junior Cup at the first attempt but this was a game they deserved a lot more from as they dominated for long spells and spent most of the second half encamped in the Kelma half. As far as team news went the side were still without Nick and then lost Carl to injury from training so were fortunate to have Leigh Hutton available for a couple of weeks. The full back slots went to John and Leigh Houghton ahead of Peter V and Beren as Paddy was unavailable and so they slotted either side of Paul and Hutton. Midfield saw the return of Booey for his first game of the season as he joined Adam and Dava in a midfield five with Mikey and Josh on the wings. Up front was the lone Matty as Porky wasn’t available but forwards Maggot, Neish and Sean joined the two full backs and newcomer Iain Thomas on the bench in a good turn out.

Playing on their home pitch but being the visitors was a bit strange (both clubs share pitch 1) but the side tore out of the blocks on a dismal day that got worse as the afternoon wore on. They had already scored once when Josh fired in but the ref ruled he was offside as they forced the early pressure. It didn’t take them long to open the scoring for real as a corner from Josh reached Booey at the far post where he nodded it back across goal for Paul to react first and nod in his first goal of the season from close range. Within minutes as the Village continued to pressure the home goal came what probably turned out to be the pivotal moment of the match. As the Kelma defence tried to clear the ball away Josh charged it down and then crossed for the incoming Mikey to send in a goal bound header that looked a goal all the way until the Kelma keeper somehow turned in mid air and palmed the ball round the post with his fingertips. A save out of this world and instead of being two goals down Kelma were still in it and they just as suddenly turned the game on its head. With the Village still in shock at that save and trying to force the issue a stray pass across field was picked up by the Kelma midfield and before the visitors could respond they had broken through with a swift attack and a shot went in off the foot of the post for the equaliser. For the next 10 minutes its was all Kelma as they took hold and scored another two goals that would put ultimately put the match just out of touch of the Village. Firstly another quick counter attack ended with a forward firing his shot against the post but the ball bounced straight back to him and he slotted home to put them ahead and then Jay made a great save to deny him another goal but his team mate was on hand to fire in number three. You probably would have expected the Village to fold now but they did just the opposite, weathered the storm and were back on top before the interval arrived.

The half time chat was just a case of tighten up and keep things going as the only thing they had done wrong was to concede the three goals and if they could grab a quick goal themselves then they would be in with a chance. Five minutes in and they brought on Iain for Dava and the side were the only team pushing forward as they dominated right through to the end of the game. They had wave after wave of attacks forcing many corners and free kicks but just didn’t have that bit of luck in front of goal and saw the keeper make another fine save as he tipped Matty’s header over the bar. Then finally the Village got a deserved breakthrough when Booey got the ball on the edge of the area and fired home an unstoppable shot in to the top corner for 2-3. Sean now replaced the limping Mikey and with just five minutes or so left they took off defender Leigh Houghton and brought on Maggot as they piled forward hoping to take the game in to extra time. However for as much as they tried the Kelma defence and in particular their keeper stood firm and the Village eventually ran out of time and it was the home side who were through to the last eight. However a much improved Village performance which they must take in to the League matches that are coming up thick and fast.

Team Line-up: Hill(J): Wellman, Hutton, Stewart, Houghton(Eaton); Devey(M)(Phillips), Coulls(A), Lyon(Thomas), Easterbrook, Dunroe; Smith
Subs not used:- Moylan, Neish, Vaughan

More photos from this game click here