22/01/2011 - Report by Steve Hill

Report: FC Village 5 Talbot Ath 2

The Village turned in one of their best performances of the day as the reached the 4th round of the Northern Cup with a superb win over Talbot Ath. Having overcome one of the teams who did well last year in the round before, the Village were now up against one of the semi finalists from last season and fielded a strong line up knowing it would be a tough game. Back came Leigh Houghton in at left back which allowed Adam to move back into midfield to join Dava L and Booey moved out to his old position on the right wing giving the side a strong and experienced 4-4-2 look about it. This meant Briggs joined Sean, TT and Neish on the bench.

Yet again the Village came flying out of the blocks and from Booey’s first cross in to the area the Talbot keeper under pressure from the forwards had to knock the ball away for a corner. Within a minute or so they had taken the lead as MOM Billy crossed for Matty to sweep in at the near post for his eleventh of the campaign. Soon after Matty outmuscled his marker on the edge of the area after a through ball from Adam and smacked his shot past a startled keeper for 2-0. Then Adam thought he was going to get in on the act as he first smashed a free kick against the foot of the post before seeing his header come back off the bar. However the Village were not to be denied that all important third goal that their excellent approach play warranted as Booey found himself in the middle of the goal on the edge of the area and as the keeper came out he coolly lobbed him. Suddenly Talbot were thrown a lifeline with a bizarre goal as a cross from the left hit one of their forwards as he tried to shoot and flew in to the path of Paul and he could do nothing but watch the blew settle in the bottom corner of the net. Chances came at both ends now as the Village could have extended their lead but were thankful to both Jay and Nick who made a good one on one save and a goal line clearance respectively.

With the score line still the same at the interval the Village knew the next goal would be vital for both sides and it was the Village who got it soon after the restart as Matty broke free and when he could easily have shot he unselfishly squared for Porky to hammer home for 4-1. With Sean on for Matty and the side playing really well and Billy tormenting the Talbot defence, it was him who paved the way for the fifth goal when he danced past a couple of defenders in to the box and was pulled down for a penalty. Up stepped Adam and he calmly slotted home for his seventh of the season. Game over? Not really as both teams still went in search of goals and when the visitors scored a second from an in-swinging corner the Village decided to close up shop as they replaced Booey and Porky with Briggs and TT and went 4-5-1. However they still enjoyed several breakaways and nearly scored a sixth when TT just headed wide Briggs’s sublime cross. Minutes later the ref blew for the end of a cracking game with the Village playing some of their best football of the season and deservedly through to the next round.

Team Line-up: Hill(J): Saunders, Whorton, Stewart, Houghton; Easterbrook(Briggs), Coulls, Lyon, Devey(B); Smith(Phillips), Devey(P)(Twells)
Subs not used:- Neish

More photos from this game click here