Sunday 27 October 2013

 

Village Manchester's second team registered an impressive victory at the weekend as they beat Everything You Need FC 3-1 with an assured display at Wright Robinson.

 

As is the norm, there were a number of changes to squad from the previous week's draw with AFC Stockport.

 

Out went Ranson, Reece and the injured Edwards and in came the fit again Baker, Findlay, Mahon and debutant Stevens. Hall and McKerlie took their places on the bench.

 

Village were looking to build on their performance in the draw from the previous week and were hopeful of getting a positive result.

 

Everything You Need came into the game with a mixed bag of results. They lost their opening game of the season 7-2 against St James Community FC but they got their first points on the board as they beat AFC Stockport 3-1 in their next game.

 

The game kicked off with the wind blowing in Village's favour and the team were looking to use this to their advantage. With Baker's strong kicks, Village were able to gain ground frequently and put the opposition under pressure. However, with the changes in personnel, it took a little while for the team to gel together to create some chances.

 

It wasn't long though until these chances came and Village took the lead with 20 minutes gone. Persistent work up front saw the ball find Mahon just inside the box with his back to the goal. The midfielder, playing just behind the main striker, was being well marshalled by the Everything You Need defender but a clever turn saw him create some space - enough space to blast the ball past the keeper. The goal was Mahon's second in two games. 1-0.

 

Mahon nearly increased his tally but after seeing his initial shot spilled by the keeper, he could only poke his follow up shot over the bar.

 

The goal, and Mahon's chance, had given Village confidence and they soon extended their lead. Holmes, buoyed from his match saving strike for the firsts, was giving the opposition a headache with his tireless work upfront. His efforts forced an Everything You Need defender into a panicky clearance which found Langford lurking around the edge of the box. The tricky winger made no mistake of the gift that was offered to him as he slotted the ball into the back of the net. 2-0.

 

Following the second goal, Everything You Need kicked into action and put Village under real pressure for a sustained period.

 

The opposition were pushing and probing and it took a determined effort from both the midfield and defence to deflect the pressure. Stevens was looking composed in the centre of defence and his height and reach were useful tools to stop any danger - and anything that did get past the defence was easily dealt with by Baker.

 

The one moment of worry was when Baker was forced to acrobatically tip the ball over the bar from a splendid effort from an Everything You Need striker.

 

Half time: VMFC2 2-0 Everything You Need FC

 

Despite Village's lead, they were not really playing to their potential and the manager Hall encouraged the team to up the ante. With the wind against them in the second half, Village knew that they would need to get the ball on the ground more to get any success - and to ensure that they did not let a two goal lead slip for the second week in a row.

 

Village did take on board the managers words and kept the ball down. This resulted in the ball being worked up to the front where the opposition did well to snuff out any attacks before a shot was fired or they forced Panos and Langford to hit their shots wide.

 

It came as a sucker punch therefore when Everything You Need got back into the game with the simplest of goals. Following the breakdown of play in the opposition half, a ball over the top saw an Everything You Need striker up against Hall, who had come on for Dornan. The speedy forward outpaced the player/manager and delicately dinked the ball over the onrushing Baker. 2-1

 

In previous games this may have saw Village fall apart. But it is to their credit that they went straight up to the other end and regained their two goal lead almost immediately. Holmes took possession of the ball on the left wing, made his way into the box and from an acute angle he smashed the ball into the back of the net at the near post. 3-1

 

The remaining 20 minutes saw Village play some of their best stuff of the season. The defence knew they had the measure of the opposition's attack and they were content to pass the ball to the midfield to let them do their work. There were long periods where Village passed the ball crisply, on the floor and to their teammate's feet which enabled them to keep the ball out of the reach of the opposition.

 

When the ball did reach the front players it regularly found Langford who was eager to add to his tally. His trickery, flicks and quick feet meant that he created a number of good chances for himself - unluckily for him he couldn't find the back of the net. As a mark of his confidence though he did try an overhead kick - and he made it look slightly more acrobatic that McPherson's effort in the previous game!

 

Village ended the game with a great chance conjured out of nothing. Holmes played a clever one two with Dornan - on in place of Panos on the right wing - and cracked a shot towards goal from the corner of the penalty box. It took a great full stretch save from the keeper to push the ball wide and thwart Holmes from adding to his tally.

 

The full time whistle brought to an end an impressive second half display from Village. If the team can play to the standard they did in a lot of periods in this game then should cause a number of teams a lot of problems in this league.

 

The team are back in action against Manchester Club Football II on 3 November

 

Full time: VMFC2 3 - 1 Everything You Need FC

 

Other league results:

 

• AFC Stockport 2 - 2 Manchester Club Football II

• Real Mancs FC 2 - 5 Audenshaw FC

• St James Community FC 5 - 2 SG Manchester