MGBSFL DIVISION TWO
FC TEAM 2 HERTSWOOD VALE 5
Joint-manager Jacob Emanuel told JC Sport: "I’ll let the JC’s cameras do a lot of the talking for this one," but he reflected on "a solid performance" as the leaders claimed what he described as "a big three points" as they look to head into the Christmas break in the strongest position possible.
Vale headed into the match this morning without a number of players, including Ben Mandel. The visitors were unfortunate not to take the lead just 10 seconds into the game – a inch-perfect ball from Millet found Josh Gorb who just couldn’t get his shot away at the vital moment.
However, the visitors didn't have to wait long to breach the FC Team defence. Trickery down the wing from Ben Kaye saw him delivered a precision cross to the back post, with unmarked top-scorer Millet powering a bullet header into the roof of the net after eight minutes.
Vale lost "club legend" Ashley Hirschberger to a nasty looking hand injury into the first half "we wish him all the best!" Just as play resumed after the injury, Kaye picked out his second assist of the match – he picked the ball up wide on the left, jinked inside before playing in Jordan Harris who spotted the keeper of his line, and finished with aplomb...definitely one to look out for in the highlights (see 1 min 11 secs).
Vale's dominance paid off in the second half, and they grabbed a third goal 58 minutes in – Gorb’s corner putting an FC Team defender under enough pressure to force him to head into his own net.
FC Team were plugging away throughout, and they were gifted a way back into the game in the 62nd minute after some horrendous defending. However, any chance of a comeback was quickly quashed when Millet was hauled down in the box and smashed home the resulting penalty.
The visitors secured the points when Danny Feuer’s long throw was dummied by Josh Wood, found it’s way to Millet who wrapped up his hat-trick, and 16th goal of the season so far with a cheeky finesse, just out of their keeper’s reach.
FC Team continued to battle and they scored a second goal on the stroke of full-time. But it was Hertswood Vale smiling at th end.
Joint-manager Jacob Emanuel told JC Sport: "We knew all about FC Team’s attacking quality coming into this game, but we turned up and put in a solid offensive performance ourselves, whilst our defence and midfield was strong throughout, quelling most of what FC Team had to throw at us.
"It was an enjoyable game, always is against Mitch’s men, and we look forward to playing them in the return later in the season."
FC Team player-manager Mitch Young described his side's performance as "dreadful". He told JC Sport: "It didn't help we were missing a number of key players. However, their goals could have been easily avoided, and in truth we neveer got our strikers in the game."
Young warned: "The positive is that at full strength I believe we will beat them."
