One thing is for sure, you don't always get the kind of warm welcome at a grassroots ground than you do at Glen Villa. Stepping out of my car, I barely walked 10 steps before I was greeted by Villa manager Jonny Morgan who immediately invited me into the clubhouse and made me a cup of tea. He then proceeded to arrange delivery of the team sheets and, with the help of his assistant manager, made further tea for an assortment of supporters and ground-hoppers, one of whom was none other than Tim Burgin. If you are regular reader, you may remember Tim from a previous blog. He is the Stourbridge based former West Brom season ticket holder that I chatted with at Tuffley Rovers back in July (Tuff Lesson For Cribbs). For two supporters of the famous blue & white stripes, it's odd that we always seem meet up at the grounds of teams that play in claret and blue.
The game today was the reversal of the reversal that happened last month. The original fixture was reversed after Villa's pitch got waterlogged. BotP had the pleasure of watching that match (Reversal Of Fortune), which Villa won 4-2. On that day Villa were in fourth, St Patricks were top of the league. Fast forward a month, and nothing had changed in terms of league positions. Both teams had won every game since that meeting. Villa had played just two but had showed some great goalscoring form, putting 7 past Saffron Dynamo Reserves and 8 past Hinckley Rovers Development. St Patricks had played four games, also winning all of them, scoring 18 goals and conceding just 5.
Consequently, today's fixture was probably of greater importance to Glen Villa, who trailed the leaders by 11 points but had a game in hand. Victory today would certainly lift them to within sight. Defeat would leave them trailing, and possibly even out of the promotion race.
The game today was the reversal of the reversal that happened last month. The original fixture was reversed after Villa's pitch got waterlogged. BotP had the pleasure of watching that match (Reversal Of Fortune), which Villa won 4-2. On that day Villa were in fourth, St Patricks were top of the league. Fast forward a month, and nothing had changed in terms of league positions. Both teams had won every game since that meeting. Villa had played just two but had showed some great goalscoring form, putting 7 past Saffron Dynamo Reserves and 8 past Hinckley Rovers Development. St Patricks had played four games, also winning all of them, scoring 18 goals and conceding just 5.
Consequently, today's fixture was probably of greater importance to Glen Villa, who trailed the leaders by 11 points but had a game in hand. Victory today would certainly lift them to within sight. Defeat would leave them trailing, and possibly even out of the promotion race.
St Patricks go close The team line-ups were not massively different to the meeting at The Emerald Centre last month. However, the visitors had top scorer Ryan Shilton on the bench, whilst Kane Pedan, who scored on debut last weekend, did start. This proved to be a significant change, especially early on in the game. Whilst Villa started sluggishly, Pedan was clearly wide awake. A second-minute snapshot, that flew wide, was a very early warning sign for the hosts. A minute later, Pedan drew a good save from Ben Perkins. Again the warning was not heeded because, with only 5 minutes gone, Pedan made certain with the third attempt, drilling a strike beyond the reach of Perkins to put St Patricks in front. 0-1.
The goal seemed to wake Villa up a little. They were behind in the 6th minute of the reverse fixture, so there was no need to panic just yet. However, despite starting to look a little more lively, passes were not hitting their mark, 50-50s were being lost, and no real impression was being made on the visitor's defence. In fact, it was almost on the stroke of the half-hour before Villa got a strike on target. Even then, Cameron Greiff, on the stretch, couldn't find enough purchase to test Paul Davis.
At the other end, Perkins had to be at his very best to acrobatically tip over Elijah Morton's close range header following a right-wing corner. Davis then had to replicate the save when he was almost deceived by George Parker's deflected free-kick, tipping that over for a corner too, as the home side attempted to get level before the break. As it happened, they had their captain Cameron Greiff to thank for only being a goal down at the interval. The striker, back to defend a corner, had to bravely throw his head at an in swinging corner that almost snuck in at the near post. Luckily for Villa, only Greiff ended up in the back of the net.
HT Glen Villa 0 St Patricks 1. Villa were very slow out of the blocks and paid the price by conceding early on. They slowly built into the game but couldn't find a way back in. St Patricks always looked dangerous, especially Pedan, who caused the home side a lot of problems.
The goal seemed to wake Villa up a little. They were behind in the 6th minute of the reverse fixture, so there was no need to panic just yet. However, despite starting to look a little more lively, passes were not hitting their mark, 50-50s were being lost, and no real impression was being made on the visitor's defence. In fact, it was almost on the stroke of the half-hour before Villa got a strike on target. Even then, Cameron Greiff, on the stretch, couldn't find enough purchase to test Paul Davis.
At the other end, Perkins had to be at his very best to acrobatically tip over Elijah Morton's close range header following a right-wing corner. Davis then had to replicate the save when he was almost deceived by George Parker's deflected free-kick, tipping that over for a corner too, as the home side attempted to get level before the break. As it happened, they had their captain Cameron Greiff to thank for only being a goal down at the interval. The striker, back to defend a corner, had to bravely throw his head at an in swinging corner that almost snuck in at the near post. Luckily for Villa, only Greiff ended up in the back of the net.
HT Glen Villa 0 St Patricks 1. Villa were very slow out of the blocks and paid the price by conceding early on. They slowly built into the game but couldn't find a way back in. St Patricks always looked dangerous, especially Pedan, who caused the home side a lot of problems.
Parker's free-kick was turned over the bar After a welcome trip back to the clubhouse to warm up a little, the second half was soon under way. I think most of the assembled spectators were expecting a Glen Villa reaction to the first-half, in which they'd not appeared to get up to full steam at any point. However, it was St Patricks who got the first strike off in anger with Rossa O'Donovan hitting the target, only for Perkins to make a comfortable save.
Villa were still not firing on all cylinders and, just past the hour, they paid the price for their wayward passing. Losing the ball deep inside their own half, their defence was split asunder by the driving run of Elijah Morton, who had latched onto the errant pass. Perkins was out smartly to make an excellent block but, unfortunately for the goalkeeper, the ball fell invitingly for Kane Pedan, who smashed it back past a defender on the line. 0-2
The second goal was the killer. Whilst not playing well, Villa could feasibly have got a single goal back. The way the game had gone so far, two goals looked to be out of reach for them. Of course, they didn't give it up but, try as they might, they couldn't find any rhythm and they struggled to put any pressure on Paul Davis's goal. They did finally make the goalkeeper work in the 83rd minute when George Parker managed to get a strike on target. Even so, it was a relatively comfortable stop for Davis. Pedan then almost picked up his hat-trick when his dipping volley was expertly turned over by Perkins.
The action in the third minute of added time summed up the home side's afternoon. George Parker superbly took down a long ball, controlling it and turning in a fluid movement before striking low across the goal. Davis was beaten but the ball came back off the foot of the far post, and that was that. Game over.
FT Glen Villa 0 St Patricks 2. Whilst it's fair to say that Villa never really got up to speed, credit has to be given to St Patricks, who managed the game excellently. After getting an early lead, they controlled the tempo whilst ensuring that they restricted the home side's chances to get back into it. The three points leaves St Patricks seven points clear at the top, although Community Football Academy do have a game in hand and Loughborough Dynamo, 12 points adrift, have three in hand. Glen Villa remain in fourth but are now 14 points off the top with just one game in hand.
Both teams have a rest before taking back to the field on January 3rd. Glen Villa are back at home, where 9th placed Heather St Johns Reserves are the visitors. The sides fought out a 3-3 draw in the reverse fixture. St Patricks make the journey over to Whetstone Athletic, who are currently 7th. St Patricks won the reverse fixture 4-1 at the end of November.
Glen Villa: 1.Perkins, 4.Langton, 5.Inskip, 6.Payton, 7.Castor, 8.Greiff(c), 9.J.Parker, 10.G.Parker, 11.Morton, 16.Stephen-Hales, 18.Frank-Nwaigwe. Subs: 2.Morrish, 12.Garratt, 14.Mason, 17.Cosgrove
St Patricks: 1.Davis, 13.Ridley, 30.Nicholls, 15.Higgins, 11.McMahon, 6.Doy, 5.Morton, 2.Higgins, 9.O'Donovan, 8.Doherty, 10. Pedan. Subs: 16.Brennan, 3.Pelos, 7.Shilton, 14.Byron, 12.Makombe
Villa were still not firing on all cylinders and, just past the hour, they paid the price for their wayward passing. Losing the ball deep inside their own half, their defence was split asunder by the driving run of Elijah Morton, who had latched onto the errant pass. Perkins was out smartly to make an excellent block but, unfortunately for the goalkeeper, the ball fell invitingly for Kane Pedan, who smashed it back past a defender on the line. 0-2
The second goal was the killer. Whilst not playing well, Villa could feasibly have got a single goal back. The way the game had gone so far, two goals looked to be out of reach for them. Of course, they didn't give it up but, try as they might, they couldn't find any rhythm and they struggled to put any pressure on Paul Davis's goal. They did finally make the goalkeeper work in the 83rd minute when George Parker managed to get a strike on target. Even so, it was a relatively comfortable stop for Davis. Pedan then almost picked up his hat-trick when his dipping volley was expertly turned over by Perkins.
The action in the third minute of added time summed up the home side's afternoon. George Parker superbly took down a long ball, controlling it and turning in a fluid movement before striking low across the goal. Davis was beaten but the ball came back off the foot of the far post, and that was that. Game over.
FT Glen Villa 0 St Patricks 2. Whilst it's fair to say that Villa never really got up to speed, credit has to be given to St Patricks, who managed the game excellently. After getting an early lead, they controlled the tempo whilst ensuring that they restricted the home side's chances to get back into it. The three points leaves St Patricks seven points clear at the top, although Community Football Academy do have a game in hand and Loughborough Dynamo, 12 points adrift, have three in hand. Glen Villa remain in fourth but are now 14 points off the top with just one game in hand.
Both teams have a rest before taking back to the field on January 3rd. Glen Villa are back at home, where 9th placed Heather St Johns Reserves are the visitors. The sides fought out a 3-3 draw in the reverse fixture. St Patricks make the journey over to Whetstone Athletic, who are currently 7th. St Patricks won the reverse fixture 4-1 at the end of November.
Glen Villa: 1.Perkins, 4.Langton, 5.Inskip, 6.Payton, 7.Castor, 8.Greiff(c), 9.J.Parker, 10.G.Parker, 11.Morton, 16.Stephen-Hales, 18.Frank-Nwaigwe. Subs: 2.Morrish, 12.Garratt, 14.Mason, 17.Cosgrove
St Patricks: 1.Davis, 13.Ridley, 30.Nicholls, 15.Higgins, 11.McMahon, 6.Doy, 5.Morton, 2.Higgins, 9.O'Donovan, 8.Doherty, 10. Pedan. Subs: 16.Brennan, 3.Pelos, 7.Shilton, 14.Byron, 12.Makombe
Great Glen Recreation Ground
The Ground
Glen Villa are based in the village of Great Glen, a few miles to the south-east of Leicester. They share the Great Glen Recreational Ground with the local cricket and tennis clubs. Accessed via service road off Fordview Close, there's a reasonably-sized car park situated to the rear of the social club and changing room buildings, and next to a children's play park. The club, or The Shed as the sign says, is a cozy place with the walls plastered with photos, pennants and other reminders of the club's past. The football pitch is a short walk away, past the cricket square and towards the far reaches of the recreation ground. Whist not restricted to the near side of the ground, spectators generally seem to gather there, behind the respect barrier. The opposite side, where the teams make camp, is backed by trees and bushes. The pitch itself slopes down from right to left as you look from the club.
Ground Number: 472
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Glen Villa are based in the village of Great Glen, a few miles to the south-east of Leicester. They share the Great Glen Recreational Ground with the local cricket and tennis clubs. Accessed via service road off Fordview Close, there's a reasonably-sized car park situated to the rear of the social club and changing room buildings, and next to a children's play park. The club, or The Shed as the sign says, is a cozy place with the walls plastered with photos, pennants and other reminders of the club's past. The football pitch is a short walk away, past the cricket square and towards the far reaches of the recreation ground. Whist not restricted to the near side of the ground, spectators generally seem to gather there, behind the respect barrier. The opposite side, where the teams make camp, is backed by trees and bushes. The pitch itself slopes down from right to left as you look from the club.
Ground Number: 472
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
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