Sunday 30 November 2014

 

Village Manchester rounded off November with a narrow 1-0 defeat to South Manchester at GM Police’s Sports & Social Club.

 

Village set up with a 3-5-2 formation with Curtis, Wilson and Sal ahead of Crosby in goal. Fairbrother and Archer were the wing backs with Ure and Clayton joining the returning McNaught in midfield. Reece partnered Mooney up front and Johnson, Mullender and Rodriguez made up the bench.

 

It took a little while for the first chance of the game to come and it fell to South Manchester as a sliced Sal clearance landed at the feet of their number 15. Luckily for the defender, the striker shot straight at Crosby who held the ball well.

 

There were a few contentious offside calls from the ageing referee before the next chance of the game – and it was a great chance for Village. A deep corner found Fairbrother at the back post and his strong header was deflected away from the goal by the keeper’s legs.

 

With 10 minutes left of the half Archer had a dangerous cross just cleared and South went up the other end and drew a fantastic diving save from Crosby as he stopped number 8’s goal bound shot.

 

Defender Curtis then had a shot go just over as he got on to the end of some neat play between Archer and Mooney. It was South who would end the half stronger though as they had three chances to take the lead – one of which they took.

 

Firstly their number 2 hit a shot wide across the goal and their number 8 smashed a shot against the bar. Between these their 9 drilled a venomous shot past Crosby into the back of the net after the referee decided not to give, what was an obvious, offside. 1-0

 

Half time: South Manchester 1-0 Village Manchester

 

Manager Connell made a double substitution at half time as he replaced both wing backs with Johnson and Rodriguez coming on for Fairbrother and Archer.

 

It was a rather quiet start to the second half as both teams cancelled each other out. Curtis and Clayton swapped positions and the former had a tame shot from 20 yards out that was easily held with 65 minutes gone.

 

Indeed, it wasn’t until the final 10 minutes that there was really another chance of note. With 80 minutes gone McNaught expertly blocked a South chance and minutes later Rodriguez had a great chance to level the game. The Spaniard collected a pass, ran through and rounded the keeper but his touch was too heavy and he was pushed too wide and the chance was gone. South had the last chance of the game but Wilson got in the way of their attempt.

 

With that the game ended and Village had to settle for another loss.

 

Full time: South Manchester 1-0 Village Manchester

 

 

 

 

Next matches:

 

VMFC2 v East End Phoenix

12.30pm, Saturday 6 December

Nottingham

GFSN Cup quarter final

 

 

AFC Flixton v VMFC1

11am, Sunday 7 December

Valley Road, Urmston, Manchester M41 8RQ

Manchester Accountants League