VMFC 2nd XI 8-5 Nottingham Ball Bois

VMFC's second team continued their good form for Cologne by putting eight goals past a makeshift Nottingham team.

by Pete Ransom

Date: 26 June 2010
Venue: Albert Park
Competition: Friendly

Team: Toland, Bridges, Clifford, McPherson, Ransom, Golds, Mullender, Hall, Rushton, Freddie, Kirkham
Subs: Mooney, Webster

Score & Scorers: 8 - 2 Win. James-Freddie 2, Kirkham 2, Mullender, Mooney 3


Retaining the same 3-5-2 formation that reaped rewards against Merseyside a month earlier, Village welcomed back Rob McPherson and Dave Clifford at centre back, Lee Rushton returned in midfield, and the front two saw the pairing of Alex Kirkham and Ian James-Freddie.

For Nottingham, the absence of several regulars meant that Village loaned them the first team pair of Jason McAuley and Jay McNaught for the day, together with second teamers Ant Parkin and Simon Smith.

On a baking day in Salford, Village settled quickly and saw an early left foot shot from Kirkham narrowly go wide. However, moments later they grabbed the opener after a McAuley backpass was not anticipated by the goalkeeper, and Freddie rounded him to make it 1-0.

The lead was doubled in spectacular style when Paul Golds' run down the right saw the ball laid off to the edge of the area and Ryan Mullender curled a delightful strike into the top corner.

As the half hour mark passed, Village replaced Freddie with Damien Mooney, who immediately connected with an inswinging corner from Pete Ransom to make it 3-0, and then set up Kirkham for the fourth.

However, just before half time, Village continued their fine run of defensive own goals, with McPherson the unlucky man on this occassion. As a long throw came into the box his header looped up and over the stranded Toland to make the half time score 4-1.

The message to Manchester at half time was clear. They had gained the advantage through hard work and organisation, and they needed to keep the same levels of concentration up in the second half. Sadly, this was all forgotten within minutes and confusion at the back led to Nottingham reducing the deficit to 4-2.

Fortunately, Damo hadn't lost his touch in front of goal and a stunning strike from 20 yards gave Village their fifth. Within minutes both Ransom and Mullender just failed to hit the target with curling shots from 25 yards.

At the hour mark, John Bridges finished a good hour's shift at centre back as Freddie returned to the pitch in midfield, with Matt Hall dropping in at centre half.

With VMFC dominating the second half, the sixth goal came when Mullender laid the ball off to Freddie, who passed the ball into the corner of the goal from 15 yards. The seventh goal took a little longer to be achieved, with Kirkham seeing two shots in a row denied by the keeper before firing wide, and Village narrowly failing to convert several corners from Ransom. However, when it did come it was inevitably from Mooney, who completed his hat trick by heading in Kirkham's excellent cross from the right.

om Webster was brought on for McPherson with 15 minutes to go, and moments later Kirkham grabbed his second by cutting inside and firing into the roof of the net with his left foot for the final score of 8-2.

The weakened opposition meant that this wasn't as competitive a game as Village would have asked for. However, there are many encouraging signs leading into the world cup in Cologne in August. James Toland is growing in confidence in goal and looks far more in comand of his penalty area. The defence played with great organisation, including Dave Clifford who had an excellent game in a new position. Elsewhere, all other players are starting to show the benefit of recent games and training sessions with performances that had far greater energy than those earlier in the season.