Sunday 14 December 2014

 

Village Manchester’s first team ended the calendar year with a defeat as they went down 3-2 to Maccabi in Prestwich on 14 December.

 

The reverse fixture saw Village emerge victorious as a Bolgar double sunk the opposition but, despite the team scoring two goals again, they were not to come home with the three points this time.

 

Crosby again featured in goal, with Ure, Sal and Wilson ahead of him. Archer and Johnson provided the danger on the wings with support from McNaught, Clayton and Mullender in the middle. Bolgar and Mooney were the familiar pairing up front. New boy Leech joined a ‘100% fresh’ Fairbrother on the sidelines.

 

Village did have a decent amount of possession in the opening quarter but it was Maccabi who had the chances and Village had Crosby to thank for keeping the scores level. Firstly the Maccabi number 8 had a fierce low shot saved after five minutes then with 15 minutes gone Crosby expertly parried an effort wide from the same player after he wandered through the defence. In between this he also held on to another striker’s effort.

 

Village had their first decent effort after 25 minutes when Mullender flicked a McNaught free kick wide and minutes later Mooney really should have scored after he smartly pre-empted a poor defensive back pass. After rounding the keeper, the Irishman delayed his shot and gave the keeper just enough time to get back on his feet and brilliantly spread himself to block with his leg.

 

McNaught returned the favour of giving the ball away but luckily the opposition’s effort was deflected wide. Crosby was again called into action just after the half hour mark as he tipped a header over and the Village goal was again threatened as the dangerous number 8 drilled a 30 yard shot just wide.

 

It was Village who would go into the break with the lead though as Mooney finally got his goal. After being brought down with a poor sliding tackle, the striker picked himself up and slotted a low spot kick to his right – just out of the keeper’s reach. 0-1

 

Half time: Maccabi 0-1 Village Manchester

 

Village had the first chance of the second half as the front two combined to good effect. Bolgar started off the move by sending the ball out to Mooney on the right and the ball was returned to the Slovakian on the edge of the box. Bolgar controlled the ball then shot towards goal but his shot was parried out of harm’s way.

 

Maccabi got themselves back into the game 10 minutes into the second half as the number 11 was given way too much time on the edge of the box as he turned towards goal and curled the ball around Crosby. 1-1

 

Leech was brought on for Mullender on the hour mark but Maccabi put themselves in front five minutes later as their number 23 drilled a shot home from a ball across the edge of the box. 2-1

 

Clayton made way for Fairbrother but again Maccabi scored another to extend their lead. Earlier in the game McNaught got away with a sloppy pass but he wasn’t lucky this time as his short back pass was intercepted by an opposition striker who knocked it past the helpless Crosby and stroked it into the net. 3-1

 

Maccabi should have put the game out of sight with 15 minutes to go but their number 8 shot wide when he really should have scored and Village made the last 10 minutes interesting when Leech’s glanced header was deflected on its way to goal past the keeper for the new boy’s first goal for the club. 3-2

 

Village tried to exert some pressure in the last few minutes to get an equaliser but it was the opposition who had the final chance of the game - however they shot straight at the impressive Crosby.

 

Full time: Maccabi 3-2 Village Manchester

 

Read Maccabi's match report at The Jewish Chronicle

 

 

 

 

Next matches:

 

VMFC2 v Cringle FC

4.15pm, Sunday 21 December 2014

Wright Robinson College, Gorton

Manchester City Central League

 

NB there is an EGM at Wright Robinson College at 3.30pm, immediately before the second team game

 

Miam Miam Celtic v VMFC1

11am, Sunday 4 January 2015

University playing fields, Wythenshawe

Manchester Accountants League