Sunday 4 January 2015

 

Village Manchester started 2015 with a loss as they went down 3-1 to Miam Miam.

 

With three weeks having passed since the team’s last game there was a worry that match sharpness would not be up to scratch. However, the team kept up the energy and commitment witnessed before Christmas and it was the opposition’s ability to take advantage of a lack of pace in defence that would prove to be the team’s undoing.

 

Crosby remained in net with a back three of Sal, Ure and McPherson. Clayton and Archer provided support to Wilson, McNaught and Fairbrother with Rodriguez and Bolgar in attack. McGivern joined Baker, who was returning from injury, on the bench.

 

The match, played on a slightly boggy pitch, started evenly as both teams tried to suss each other out. However, it was the opposition who pinpointed the avenues where they would benefit and they used this to great effect. Miam Miam’s number 7 was causing McPherson all sorts of trouble down Village’s right as his pace and movement proved too much for the Northern Irishman. The first goal came from the number 7 outrunning McPherson and his ball across was notched in by an attacker. 0-1

 

The second came as McPherson collected a thrown in and delivered the ball across to Ure. The pass was quite strong and after Ure brought the ball under control an attacker nipped the ball away and finished past Crosby. 0-2

 

The third goal came as McPherson and Sal were swapping markers to try and stem number 7’s joy down their left. The switch wasn’t completed in time however and the number 7 was left in too much space to leave Crosby helpless. 0-3

 

Half time: Village Manchester 0-3 Miam Miam

 

Manager Connell rang the changes at half time with McPherson being taken out of the firing line to be replaced by McGivern and Baker also came on for Clayton. The formation also switched from a 3-5-2 to 4-4-2.

 

The changes brought a bit of stability to Village and they started to exert sustained pressure on the Miam defence.

 

This pressure soon bore fruit as a great through ball from Baker found Bolgar. The striker brilliantly twisted a defender inside and out and calmly slotted the ball past the opposition keeper. 1-3

 

With 10 minutes to go Village almost got another to make the remaining minutes very interesting. A mazy Wilson run was halted unfairly by a Miam defender not far outside the box. The Derby fan was ushered away from the dead ball and Baker took up free kick duty. His powerful drive was on target and looked destined to find the back of the net but the keeper produced an outstanding save to tip the ball over the bar.

 

Village were not to get another chance and the game came to an end with Village suffering a loss in the opening fixture of 2015.

 

Full time: Village Manchester 1-3 Miam Miam

 

 

 

Next matches:

 

Deloitte v VMFC1

11am, Sunday 18 January 2015

University playing fields, Wythenshawe

Manchester Accountants League

 

VMFC2 v New East Manchester

6.15pm, Sunday 18 January 2015

Wright Robinson College, Gorton

Manchester City Central League