Sunday 2 November 2014

 

Village Manchester returned to Accountants League action on 2 November as they faced rivals Mace at the University Pitches in Wythenshawe.

 

The previous week’s league game was postponed at the opposition's request and Village were chomping at the bit to get back into action. 

 

With all the regular keepers unavailable due to injury or holiday, manager Connell drafted in Hodge to go between the sticks. McGivern took his place at left back with Fairbrother on the right. Wilson and Sal were the central defensive pairing. Ure and Reece were supported by Clayton and Archer on the wings with Rodriguez partnering Bolgar upfront.

 

The game got off to a great start for Village as Bolgar put them ahead with barely five minutes gone. The Slovakian used his pace and strength to outrun and outmuscle a Mace defender and his shot across the keeper found the back of the net. 0-1

 

Mace sounded an immediate warning as they quickly went up to the other end of the pitch where Hodge did well to tip over a shot from their number 7.

 

McGivern almost got his second goal for the club on the quarter hour mark – but he was just unable to get on the end of Ure’s flick from a Reece free kick. 

 

The opposition had the best of the next 20 minutes as they began to create more chances and put Village under pressure. Their number 7 had two chances in quick succession. Firstly he got to the ball before Hodge, nudged it round him but could only clip wide. Then he had a quick snapshot towards the near post which the keeper diverted away. The number 10 also had a try with 10 minutes left of the half but his shot was just over.

 

Village had one more chance before the half time whistle blew as Reece’s cross-cum-shot was tipped over.

 

Half time: Mace 0-1 Village Manchester

 

Connell urged his team to compete and communicate more in the second half and he brought on Holmes for McGivern to add some more pace in the attacking third.

 

The second half started off brightly as Archer hit the side netting and Bolgar poked the just wide. Bolgar almost took advantage of a poor clearance by the Mace keeper on the hour mark but his first time shot went just over and Rodriguez took one touch too many as his attempt was thwarted.

 

The way the flow of the game was going meant that the Mace management wanted to make a change. However, the player that got substituted didn’t take kindly to being brought off and this resulted in a foul mouthed argument with insults and balls flying everywhere and the coach walking off in disgust.

 

Mace did start to have some chances following Village’s onslaught and number 12’s shot went just over whilst a free kick from the 10 was tipped over by Hodge.

 

These couple of chances kickstarted Village again and Holmes missed a great opportunity as he headed over Reece’s nod towards goal from a corner.

 

The second goal soon came though as the Spaniard Rodriguez fed Bolgar and the striker calmly rounded the keeper and tapped home. 0-2

 

Mace hit back immediately however as a long ball flew over Fairbrother onto the onrushing winger and his deep cross found number 17 coming in at the back post. The attacker hit his shot into the ground and the ball bounced up over the diving keeper and off the underside of the bar to halve the deficit. 1-2

 

The goal was followed by another substitution for Village as Mullender came on for the tiring Bolgar.

 

With the game entering the final 15 minutes both teams had claims for a penalty turned down as firstly Holmes’ shot seemed to be blocked by a hand then, seconds later, Mace appealed that Clayton had stopped one of their attempts with his hand.

 

Village were made to pay for not putting one of their earlier chances away when Mace equalised in the final 10 minutes as number 12 was left free to head home a cross. 2-2

 

And Mace nearly won it as the number 12 just clipped a shot wide with the last chance of the game.

 

Village were disappointed to let a two goal lead slip but can take heart with the fact they have got another point on the board which puts them fifth in the league.

 

Full time: Mace 2-2 Village Manchester

 

 

Next matches:

 

SG Manchester v VMFC2

6.15pm, Sunday 9 November

Manchester City Central League

 

Manchester Villa v VMFC1

11am, Sunday 16 November

MAFL Handi-Cup first round