Following the opening day victory at Zizou, Villa staged their first ever Division 1 fixture at Fairstead Road with last season’s Division 2 champions Valley Green the visitors. Knowing that victory for Villa would put them top of the pile at this very early stage the home side knew that they would have to fight for that privilege, and so it proved..
Valley certainly edged the opening exchanges with the larger percentage of possession without really creating any clear cut chances, indeed many sights at goal were from long range which failed to cause Woolfenden any problems in the Terling goal.
Villa were to have the first real chance of the game when Scott Collins excellent set piece delivery caused confusion in the Valley Box. Unfortunately outfield Woolfenden seemed surprised when the ball fell kindly at his feet 6 yards out and failed to set himself and could only skew his effort wide. Clearly marked as Villas danger man Woolfenden was finding Valleys marking tight and the tackling hard, none more so than the late challenge from Greens centre half Tommy Hayes on the half way line which earned him a booking. Woolfenden wasn’t able to shake off the ankle injury picked up from the challenge and was replaced by Steven Webb upfront.
The first chance of the game for Valley saw a header destined for the far top corner headed onto the bar by Matt Davies before being cleared to safety. Within minutes the game had its first major talking point.
Villa sprang the midfield allowing Jay Cracknell to run at the Green centre halves. Turning one way and then the other Tommy Hayes thought he could reach the ball ahead of the Villla man but didn’t count on him having the extra touch. Hayes’ desperate lunge failed to get the desired effect and the Villa forward was taken down. Referee Steve Connor had no other alternative but to brandish another yellow card and ultimately red to leave Green with a number disadvantage.
Minutes later Terling were ahead, or so they thought ! Another Collins delivery was met with perfect timing by Wayne Pike and his stooping header left Charlie Dyer in the Green goal grasping at thin air as the ball hit the net. Pikes run was inch perfect as the cross was delivered and such was its timing the Valley Green club linesman flagged with more hope than anticipation. To everyone’s surprise referee Connor disallowed the goal, a decision that he later admitted he may have got wrong. In a moment of déjà vu Collins and Pike combined again minutes later but this time Pikes header thumped the bar.
Half time changes were made with the tired Luke Ellis withdrawn. Tris Woolfenden tried out the ankle again but ultimately had to concede defeat with about 20 minutes remaining forcing a reshuffle of the pack. This reshuffle would ultimately see the points coming Terlings way.
A half of even fewer chances than the first would ensue. Valley danger man Brad Hughes was withdrawn having got nothing from Villas excellent Darren Douglas, Taylor replaced Chris Collins in the centre of the park as a matter of caution having received an earlier booking, Webb and Cornwell also entered the fray and Gardiner came on to replace Agar-Hutton in readiness for manager Purser going to a 3-5-2 formation. On 79 minutes though this proved to be not required.
As part of the re-shuffle Matt Davies’ pace was added to the attack joining Cracknell in the search for a winning goal. It was to be these two who combined when it was found !
Cracknell did well in the centre circle as Pikes cleared header fell his way and Davies’ direct run from deep caught out the Valley rear guard with Cracknells through ball putting the temporary striker clear on goal. Calls of offside from the men in Green failed as their club linesman kept his flag correctly by his side, Davies approached towards Dyer in the Green goal and with the ultimate composure drew the keeper from his line before sliding the ball exquisitely under the despairing dive and outstretched right hand of the man in Green and into the net.
Green huffed and puffed in the final 10 minutes without creating any chances or indeed exerting any moments of continued pressure in their search for an equaliser. In fact Terling should have wrapped up victory when a three on one situation saw Davies once again spring the half way line with Cracknell and Webb on a lung busting run in pursuit. Unfortunately this time Davies wasn’t as composed as earlier and his pass into Webb was slightly over hit and the chance came to nothing.
The referees whistle came soon after securing a second 3 point haul in consecutive weeks, a result which put Terling top of Division one with the only 100% record from those teams having played twice.
