KVFC vs Wrington Redhill Reserves

Charity Cup 2015-16

16 January 2015 2:00pm

Playing only their second game since October, the Reserves pulled out a disciplined performance to knock league high-fliers Kenn Valley out of the Charity Cup with a narrow victory that belied the number of chances the away side had to win the game more convincingly.

The natural slope of the pitch had drained it well, providing a surprisingly good playing surface, and captain Joe Moore opted to play downhill in the first period, joined in the middle of a three man midfield by Josh Bennett and Paul Faulkner.

The two sides know each other well following joint promotion last season, and this was apparent in a cagey opening, with Wrington perhaps settling soonest into the game. Michak O’Connor and Dan McMullen were causing a nuisance up top, with Callum Briggs and evergreen Mike Clements getting forward in good support from wide areas. It was down the left side that the best chances of the first half came for Wrington, as McMullen struck both posts in two phases of a promising attack.

Wrington’s extra man meant they were winning the midfield battle, with Bennett finding a surprising amount of space to pull the strings, holding the ball well and offering the defence a short pass as the away side tried to keep the ball.

KVFC rarely threatened the Wrington defence, organised superbly by Chris Holland who only blotched his copy-book with a deserved yellow card for a mistimed tackle on the edge of the box, which the hosts wasted by playing short instead of opting for a shot on Jacob Burnett’s goal. In fact, other than a couple of regulation saves from range, Burnett was relatively untroubled thanks to Nick Curtis and Dan Burnett’s reading of the game, and communicating well with the midfield screen. At the other end, the home goalkeeper was in inspired form to push Faulkner’s goal-bound effort around the post, and only a last ditch tackle prevented O’Connor from giving Wrington the first half lead their play probably deserved.

Manager Julian Moss made changes at half time as Faulkner replaced McMullen in attack and Oliver Hubbard entered the fray in the middle of the park, instantly getting into the game with good distribution and energy. The visitors carried on where they left off, O’Connor missing a glorious chance for a tap in at the far post after good work from Faulkner, and Moore curling a free-kick against the frame of the goal.