28 January 2014

 

Village Manchester’s second team have an important game coming up in the next few weeks as they face Hotscots in the semi-final of the GFSN Cup on 22 February.

 

by Rob McPherson

 

The match, which is being played on home turf in Manchester, will determine who makes it through to the final where the victors will face either Saltire Thistle or London Romans later in the year.

 

Village made it through to the last four having disposed of three challengers along the way. The first game was actually a non-event as Village were awarded a victory as Brighton were unable to field a team in the Preliminary Round. In the round of 16, Village were drawn away to Newcastle Panthers in what looked a difficult tie on paper. However, Village produced arguably their best performance of the season as they destroyed the hosts 8-1.

 

It was back to Newcastle for the Quarter Final as Village came up against Leicester Wildecats as part of the GFSN's Christmas get-together. Village defeated Leicester 3-2 in the GFSN Cup final in 2008 but it took penalties this time for Village to emerge triumphant. 

 

Hotscots, who are in Division 1 of the GFSN League, have sailed through the two rounds they have played so far. They trounced London Leftfooters 7-1 away in the round of 16 and disposed of another London team in the quarter-final as they saw off Falcons 5-1 in Newcastle. 

 

The club, which is based in Edinburgh, sit mid-table in their league – a league that has already seen them beat Village’s opposition from the quarter final, Leicester, away from home this season. 

 

The two clubs know each other quite well - so much so in fact that three Hotscots players turned out for Village at the 2012 EuroGames in Budapest. Stu McDonald, Eric Baster and Kevin Rowe produced impressive performances as they helped the club become champions of the second division in the Hungarian capital.

 

With the tie being played on a Saturday, Village are excited to take Hotscots out to Canal Street for drinks after the game. With Hotscots having a reputation for enjoying a few drinks, Village are sure that the two clubs will get on like a house on fire!