14/01/2012 - Report by Steve Hill

Report: FC Village 4 Lodge Bar 1

The Village completed the double over Lodge Bar for their first win of 2012 and the game saw two milestones as Maggot made his 100th appearance and Matty's brace of goals makes it 50 for the club. With Leigh, John and Nick all failing to make it through work, injury and illness the team had several changes as they went 4-3-3. Peter V came in at right back and Peter I moved over to left, Stewy McIvor played his first game in a long time as he joined Adam and Iain in midfield and Maggot played wide left with Jim and Matty in a front three. This left just Sean and Phil on the bench.

Back home at Levers for the first time in over 2 months the Village playing a somewhat different formation than of late took a while to get their game going as the both Adam and Iain got used to Stuey’s game and he in turn took time in seeing how they played. However the back four and Jay looked in fine form as they kept the Lodge forwards at bay especially their speedy right winger but there was one moment of worry midway through the half. Jay came to clear a through ball and although he made it to the ball, a Lodge forward got there at the same time and with the ball safely cleared Jay went down with a bad foot injury. Fortunately he recovered and was able to see the match out. Down at the other end both Jim and Maggot were doing well on the wings and they both provided crosses that just needed someone on the end of them. Then the Village got the break they needed when another cross in to the area bounced up and Matty went to head it but was kicked in the face. The players appealed for the penalty and the ref pointed to the spot and so Maggot playing in 100th game took hold of the ball and coolly converted his 88th goal for 1-0. Minutes later the Village nearly doubled their lead when Iain found space inside the box but saw his shot beat the keeper only to hit the post and get cleared away.

Still leading by just that one goal the Village knew that if they scored again at the restart then the game would be won as Lodge hadn’t really troubled the well marshaled home defence in the first forty five. That all important goal came some ten minutes later when Maggot crossed to the far post for Matty to fire home the first of his brace. With the points in the bag the Village brought Sean on for Maggot and moved Jim out to the left wing. He was just as effective out there and he nearly made it 3-0 when he cut in from the wing and fired in a great shot that beat the keeper but not the post. The third wasn’t long in waiting though as this time Sean set up Matty to fire in from close range for his 50th club goal. Iain made way for Philly now and it was the sub that provided the last note worthy bit of action for the home side when Adam sent over a corner and he flew in to bullet home a header for his first goal for the club. With the defence and midfield having defended so well and a clean sheet on the cards it came as a huge disappointment for the side when several minutes from the end a couple of slips in midfield allowed a Lodge forward to run free on goal and score a fine consolation. Despite that small setback it was another 3 points with a good display against a decent side. 

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

More photos from this game click here