24 February 2015

Village Manchester heads north of the border in March as they take on Saltire Thistle in the semi-final of the GFSN Cup.

The winner of the game, which will take place at the Toryglen Football Centre on Saturday 14 March with a 2pm kick off, will face HotScots in the final after the Edinburgh based team saw off London Falcons 5-1 in the other semi.

Saltire Thistle, who play in Glasgow, have been having a fine season and they currently sit top of GFSN Division 1 with a record of played five, won five. Their goals columns also look quite impressive with 26 scored and only 4 conceded.

In the Cup they progressed through the Preliminary Round without kicking a ball as their opposition - Stonewall - forfeited the fixture. In the Last 16 round they saw off reigning cup holders London Romans and in the Quarters – which were held in Nottingham – they saw off the hosts, the Nottingham Ball Bois, 1-0 after extra time.

VMFC Manager Rob McPherson said of the opposition: “Looking at Saltire’s league form and the fact that they put out two good teams in their run up to the semi-final just goes to show the quality that they have got. They seem to score for fun at times – more than five per game in the league – so they certainly know where the back of the net is!”

“It will be a tough game but one that Village Manchester is really looking forward to. We reached the final last season and would love to repeat that feat again this year. We played Saltire regularly in the Caledonian Cup and always had good games against, and good nights out with, them and the club are really looking forward to becoming acquainted again.”

Village’s run to the semis has seen them triumph on the road as all their games have been played away from the North West. A 2-1 victory over Trowbridge Tigers was followed by a 6-2 over the Newcastle Panthers. In the last round the club saw off London Phoenix 4-0 and if they want to lift the 2014/2015 cup trophy they will have to see off stern Scottish resistance!

by Rob McPherson