07/01/2012 - Report by Steve Hill

Report: Lache 1 FC Village 1

The Village began the New Year with an excellent result against the League leaders as both sides played their first games for over a month. Having had a month off due to the bad weather and the Xmas break the Village couldn’t have had a tougher match to restart their campaign with as they travelled to the other side of Chester to face Lache who still boasted the only 100% record in the League. For the first time this season the Village were able to name the same starting line-up as the previous game with the only change coming on the bench as Peter V returned to join Maggot, Nick and Philly.

On a smallish pitch that was uneven and stodgy along with a strong cross wind both sides failed to take control of the match although the visitors seemed to force most of the pressure. Most of their attacks however resulted in free kicks or corners which the team failed to make the most of and it was Iain’s long throw-ins that caused the home side the most problems but that one clear cut chance never came along. Down at the other end the Village defence were coping well with the Divisions top scorers and the one clear cut chance they got was well saved by Jamie at the foot of the post.

So still goalless at the interval the Village knew they had a good chance to get something out of the game if not the win then certainly a draw. Right from the restart they nearly took the lead when from another long throw by Iain, Adam headed towards goal but a defender managed to head off the line and away for a corner. Then Jim Bob’s pace took him clear and as the keeper came out he lobbed him only to get flattened in the process right on the edge of the box. With all the players waiting for a free kick and maybe a card of some colour the ref just gave a goal kick much to the amazement of the Village team. The game was starting to open up now and Lache started to make inroads on the Village defence as well but the visitors held firm and when Jay was called in to action he made two good saves to keep them out. Down at the other end Matty saw his shot whistle just past the post before the Village decided to bring on Maggot for the ineffective Sean as Jim Bob moved out to the right. This move paid dividends almost immediately as Maggot got the ball and played in John who held off the challenge of a defender to fire in a shot which beat the keeper and open the scoring. It was his first goal for the club and now they were definitely in with a shout. However within 5 minutes the ref awarded Lache a rather generous free kick just inside the Village half and when it was lofted towards the area a home forward flicked it on and when it just went over the heads of the defence a forward nipped in to flick it home for the equaliser. The Village now brought Nick on to replace the injured Jim and he slotted in at right back as Peter I moved up to the wing but he was soon replaced by Peter V as the side made a final push for a winner. Maggot came closest with a cross shot that was blocked and then just before the final whistle Peter V just failed to reach a cross at the far post when unmarked. The Village defence coped with everything Lache tried to throw at them and when the final whistle went it was probably the visitors who were the more pleased with the point as Lache had lost their 100% record but the Village still felt it was a day when they could have got even more than that one point.

Team Line-up: Hill: Irvine(Vaughan), Coulls(C), Stewart, Houghton; Phillips(Eaton), Coulls(A), Thomas(I), Wellman; Smith, Thomas(J)(Whorton)
Subs not used:- Ashdown

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