Freshfield 1-2 Ventura
13th October 2002
Freshfield's dismal cup form was maintained in this match, which was full of incident but ultimately very disappointing. Ventura are a good side who will no doubt do well in the Second Division this year, but Freshfield should have beaten their cup jinx and managed a second victory in 5 seasons of trying. The home side started nervously but should have been calmed when after just a few minutes a sweeping move to the right flank saw Brian McGlynn cross the ball sweetly to Tommy Smith whose angled header found its way into the bottom corner of the net. Neil Makinson had to depart prematurely through injury but Geoff Booker replaced him up front. Booker soon found himself moved back to centre-half when having been booked for a bad challenge, Richie Kemp became the first player in Freshfield's history to be sent off, retaliating and picking up a second yellow card. A player of his experience should have known better, and his dismissal with just twenty minutes gone changed the whole complexion of the game.
At first Freshfield's ten raised their game, shaking off the lethargy and complacency that had characterised their performance thus far. Inevitably, though, as the game wore on they became more tired, though special mention must be made of Smith's tireless efforts as he ploughed his lone furrow up front. At the back, Steve Hughes continued his early season promise and was instrumental in repelling the majority of Ventura's attacks.
As the second half developed, so did Freshfield's challenge and they should have scored again when a number of good chances were missed, most notably Damian Nolan's effort which soared over the cross bar. Slowly but surely Ventura forced their way back into the game. They were awarded a penalty when Mike Kemp was perhaps harshly adjudged to have handled deliberately. After a long delay their tall central midfielder blasted the spot kick high and wide. They were soon on level terms, however, when a tame header somehow found its way through Nigel Power's flailing grasp. Simon Richards, a late arrival having left his kit washing duties a little too far into Sunday morning, was brought on on the left flank but was unusually subdued. Ventura's winner came with ten minutes to go when a crisp move down Freshfield's left flank left them exposed. There can be little doubt but that Freshfield would probably have won this game with 11 men on the pitch throughout, but the fact is that this was a game won and more particularly lost in midfield, where last week's confidence and composure gave way to a more casual and somehow less committed approach. A dramatic improvement will be needed next week when Freshfield visit title favourites Ainsdale.
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Team
Nigel Power |
Subs not used
Manager's Man of the Match
Player's Man of the Match
Supporter's Man of the Match
Attendance |