Sunday 12 October 2014

 

Village Manchester slumped to a disappointing 4-0 defeat to league leaders AFC Flixton at the Manchester University Pitches. 

 

Village have had a mixed start to the season with two wins, one draw and one loss in their opening four games. Flixton on the other hand have made a 100% winning start to their campaign and this has included an 11-0 demolishing of Saints.

 

Baker made his last start in goal for a month or so as he recovers from an injury and his goal was protected by a back four of Clayton, Wilson, Curtis and McGivern. Ure sat just in front of the defence with Papademetriou, McNaught, Archer and Johnson ahead of him. The club's top scorer, Bolgar, was the lone man up front. Connell, McPherson and Mullender started as substitutes.

 

With the morning’s fog clearing, the match got underway and it became obvious why Flixton were sitting at the top of the league. Despite only just getting promoted, the team demonstrated their skill and power as they began to pin Village back. This resulted in a number of corners which Village were able to defend well.

 

Flixton seemed intent on scoring a screamer from outside the box and they started to pepper shot towards Baker's goal. However, they hadn't found their range yet as shots went wide or over the bar.

 

Baker pulled off a couple of good saves as he came out and blocked a shot and then quickly got back up and into his goal to dive and push another attempt wide.

Village had little to shout about in the first half but the effort and desire was there. Papademetriou, Johnson and Bolgar were stretching their legs as much as they could but a resolute Flixton defence dealt with them well.

 

With the first half soon to come to an end, Flixton got the goal that they were searching for - and it was no surprise that it came from outside the box. The Flixton number 9 had had a few attempts at goal throughout the half and he finally got his angles right as he expertly curled a shot around a stranded Baker from 25 yards out. 0-1

 

Flixton nearly doubled their lead just before the half time whistle but their number 8 curled a shot wide from a half cleared corner.

 

Half time: Village Manchester 0-1 AFC Flixton

 

With Flixton the more dominant of the sides in the first half, Connell needed to make changes. He brought himself on for McGivern, moved a couple of players around and put two up front so that Bolgar, who was running his socks off, had some help up front. Village were showing Flixton too much respect and the players knew that they needed to up things in the second half if they were to get anything out of the game.

 

Village started to win more headers as Connell started to throw his weight about but it was Flixton who were to get the next, and possibly most decisive, goal.

 

A Flixton attacker took possession of the ball out to the right hand side of the pitch and started to move towards goal. As he got close to the edge of the box he unleashed an unstoppable shot that flew past the American in goal and into the far side of the goal. 0-2

 

Village were forced into a change just after the hour mark as Johnson came off injured and McPherson replaced him. Archer assumed his third position of the game as he moved from right back to right wing.

 

Flixton grabbed their third as a cross field ball found their left sided winger who was in a decent amount of space inside the box as McPherson got drawn into the middle. Despite Curtis' best efforts, the winger passed the ball across the six yard box for a striker to finish easily. 0-3

 

Their fourth came from another curled shot as the ball fell to an attacker on the edge of the box. The Flixton player picked his place well as he curled the ball around an onrushing defender and past an unsighted Baker.

 

It wasn't all Flixton in the second half however. Papademetriou came close with an ambitious shot that sailed just over and Curtis was not far away as he had a shot towards goal. Village were starting to get some joy down the wings and Archer looked particularly dangerous as he started to give the left back some issues and delivered some tempting crosses.

 

The final whistle sounded with Flixton maintaining their unbeaten record and with Village knowing they were outplayed. Flixton have already caused many teams trouble this season and they look like a very strong force. Village will not face many better teams this season and they can take heart that they have already beaten some stiff opposition already this season.

 

The league takes a break next week as the club face Denton CC in the first round of the Robinson's Brewery County Cup.

 

Full time: Village Manchester 0-4 AFC Flixton

 

 

Next matches:

 

Denton CC v VMFC1

10.30am

Sunday 19 October

Denton's ground

Manchester FA Robinson's Brewery County Cup

 

VMFC2 v CASIM Lions

6.15pm

Sunday 19 October 

Wright Robinson College, Gorton

Manchester City Central League