9 May 2017

 

A fourth unbeaten month in a row saw the first team probably secure promotion in their first season in the Lancashire & Cheshire League pyramid.  

 

The team faced four games in a month that would be defining in deciding their fate for next season.  

 

Up first they faced Staly Lions at the Blocksages Playing Fields but neither side was able to break the deadlock as the game finished goalless. 

 

A home game against Milton Reserves was the next hurdle and things were looking good for the team as they went into the half-time break with a two goal lead courtesy of strikes from Clayton and Mbano. Thomas and Storey added another two in the second half meaning that Milton's goal was nothing more than a consolation. 

 

After a week off due to the Easter break the boys were back in action as they welcomed Old Stretfordians Seconds to the University pitches in Wythenshawe. 

 

A win was necessary to ensure that Village would have their fate in their own hands going into the final game of the league and they got off on the right foot as they raced into the break with a 3-0 lead thanks to a strike from Mooney and a brace from Mbano. The lads didn’t let their concentration slide in the second half with Mooney grabbing his second to earn a 4-0 victory. 

 

That result meant that Village would finish second in the league and grab a promotion spot if they matched third placed Tintwistle Athletic Thirds' result. Village travelled to Drinkwater Park in Bury to take on Bury Amateur Thirds as Tintwistle hosted champions Abacus Media Reserves. 

 

In the first half Village had a lot of the ball and played some good football but were unable to find that goal that would settle any nerves that may be rising. The lads knew that a goal would give them a bit of a cushion and breathing space and Mbano duly obliged as he nabbed a goal. 

 

If the result stayed as it was then Village would be in second no matter what happened in the Tintwistle game. With an enviable unbeaten run to maintain the boys were determined to see the game out and secured the victory that they needed.  

 

Promotion will be ratified by the league over the summer as the administrators look at the league structure.  

 

The second team rounded off their GFSN League campaign with a home game against Birmingham Blaze. 

 

Beautiful weather greeted the teams as they took to the pitch at Albert Park in Salford and it was a bright half by both teams as they shared fours goals with two apiece. Village got one of their goals with a Blaze player nodding into their own goal from a Golds corner but it was the other goal that everyone was talking about as Rider found the top corner with a scintillating strike!  

 

The second half was not a pleasant watch for Village however as Blaze continually broke the home team's offside trap to grab a number of goals. There was a bright spot however as Golds grabbed a goal. The game finished with a scoreline of 7-3 to the boys from the West Midlands.

 

Words: Rob McPherson

Photos: Steve Joyce