VMFC vs , 20 August 2008

First Half

So here it is, the last game (and match report) of a long season that has had all the thrills, spills, highs and lows you might expect from a football club made up of predominantly gay men that have collectively mastered the art of combining amateur dramatics with a unique togetherness when the chips are down. Not the ingredients of your average football club but then we've never been one of those!

This however was not a time to reminisce on the season. Let's save that for 23rd May. 100% of everyone's focus was on winning the GNL Cup Final against a Leicester side that had soundly beaten VMFC 5-2 in their own back yard earlier in the GFSN league season.

No stone was left unturned in the build up and preparation for the final. The squad was announced by Coach Liver earlier in the week, two 12 seater mini buses (with built in i-Pod docking stations) were hired to transport the troops and merry band of (very vocal) supporters to the venue and even breakfast was covered by our no.1 supporters in Manchester, Taurus Bar & Restaurant (thanks to Polly & the team), with sausages served between two soft buns all washed down with a choice of tea, coffee or juice along a sun-drenched morning on Canal Street. How very civil!

On to the game...

The venue was Rainsworth FC, a non league ground with excellent pitch and facilities. That said, playing a slick passing game was difficult due to the hard surface but it was still light years ahead of Hough End so no complaints! It was the Leicester team who were clearly up the the game from the first whistle, getting the ball to their dangerous front men early and not allowing Village any time or space on the ball and forcing a hurried clearance from Bridges which forced an early corner after just 30 seconds. It was a sign of things to come with Morley, Johnson, Feldman and Shapiro struggled to get a grip in the middle of the park and the Village back four were up against it from the start.

Vera and Wharton who were playing up front were mostly redundant in the early stages with only a glimpse of the ball and when it did find its way into the Leicester half, it was all too often easily cut out by the disciplined Wildcats defence.

Despite Leicester out battling, out working and generally showing they didn't think it was just a matter of turning up to win the game, threats to the Village goal were dealt with by the outstanding Ure at centre half and the assured and confident Nordon in between the sticks. It was however only a matter of time before the defense cracked under the pressure and it was Leicester who would stun the Village players with two quick goals,

the first on 15 minutes when the ball was lost by Wouldhave on the edge of the Wildecats box, found it's way unchallenged down the Village right before a cross which found it's way to the back post leaving the unmarked Leicester right winger to tap the ball into an empty net. The second came on 25 mins again, through a lack of pressure on the ball or player from the Village team and after a slick one-two on the edge of the area, the Leicester player slotted the ball calmly down to Nordons right into the corner of the net.

2-0 Leicester.

It was a thoroughly disappointing start to the game for the Village players who had arrived with optimism that a victory was within their grasp. Unfortunately most didn't read the small print which stated the 'must have' requirement of matching the oppositions work rate and desire to earn the chance to win a cup final. Expectations were high before the game but too many of Village's key players simply didn't show up for the 1st 30 minutes and this added to the problem. To their credit, the lads from Leicester gave it everything and thoroughly deserved to be 2-0 ahead. The first substitution of the game was then made, Rushton replacing Bridges in the right back position.

Liver had seen enough and further changes were made on 25 minutes. Johnson moved out of the centre to replace Wouldhave up front, Shapiro came into the centre of the pitch and Kirkham came into the right midfield position. Soon after, Feldman was replaced by Shaw at left midfield. The message to Morley and Shapiro was clear, steady the middle of the park, protect the back four and let the wide players and front two do the damage. Easier said than done but hat's off to the lads, the last 15 minutes of the half saw the game start to turn slowly back towards Village. A few set piece opportunities in the form of corners and free kicks all came to nothing but importantly, Village were starting to impose their game on the Leicester team who had run riot for the best part of the half.

HT 2-0 Leicester

Second Half