Dune FM Reserves 2 - 4 Ventura FC

Sunday 29 January 2012
Bedford Park, Southport

Scorers: Frank (2), Lang, own goal

Ventura's winning run was extended to 9 games after a gritty performance against a resilient Dunes FM team, who missed a first half penalty.

In yet another changing line-up & playing in their white & black away kit, Ventura asserted themselves well early on & put pressure on the Dune's defence until Lang managed to skip between 2 defenders & slot home. The finish was Lang's first goal for Ventura & a stark contrast to the finishing he'd produced earlier in the season against West Lancs.

Ventura then could have added another as Frank found himself through on goal only to see his finish narrowly go wide of the post. It was then Frank who added Ventura's second goal however as he timed his run perfectly to remain onside & slot home.

Dunes then posed more of an attacking threat towards the end of the second half & were awarded a penalty when Lang, trying to make amends for scoring, decided to bring down a Dunes player in the box, the referee having no hesitation in pointing to the spot. After some Grobbelaar-esque leg movements from Slocombe, the Dunes player then attempted to find the top right corner only to see his spot kick fly harmlessly high & over the bar.

Dunes did however recover quickly from the miss & scored late into the half after Slocombe found himself isolated & the Dunes striker lifted the ball over him to make the scoreline 2-1. Ventura then nearly regained their 2 goal cushion just before halftime as Conkling pulled the ball back for Orang-Utan only for him to see his shot well saved as the Dunes keeper tipped the ball onto the post.

The second half resumed with tired legs from both sides & Ventura regained their 2 goal lead after a bizarre own goal. Frank had chipped the keeper & with the ball nearing the goal, a Dunes defender raced back but hacked wildly at his clearance to smash the ball into the top corner of his own goal. Frank then topped off a good personal performance by drilling in low after rounding the Dunes keeper, after being put through by Heron.

Joey Lea (aka Luis Suarez), on as a half-time substitute, showed some neat touches & energy when he replaced Orang-Utan. Then whilst Ventura tired towards the end, Dunes added a late headed goal but it was too little too late & Ventura comfortbaly held on for another 3 points & a club record 9th consecutive win.

The real test for Ventura will come next week as they face top of the table Herald Reserves who still remain unbeaten in the league this season.

Ventura's 4-5-1 formation against Dunes

Scarisbrick Hotel 1 - 9 Ventura FC

Sunday 22 January 2012,
Bedford Park, Southport

Scorers: Hand, Ball (3), Frank (3), Nolan, Orang-Utan

Guest Writer This Week: Peter Brocklebank (aka Harold Shipman, aka Peter Sutcliffe)

Guest Writer/Coach...

Alright? Yeah I'm back writing this week's update 'coz Dave is a bad man & didn't play today. We did better without him anyway & I had a go at being Carl's Assistant Manager. Getting a feel for this coaching lark. I think my half-time teamtalk had the desired effect as we won 9-1. I told Ali that his hat-trick was simply not good enough & that he needed to pull his socks up. He told me to stop telling him what to do! Who's he think he is? Where's my hammer?


Anyway, we were 2-0 up at half-time, had a new lad playing called Chris Ball. Apparently he used to play in the same team as Dave & Jamie. He was alright, scored a hat-trick like, but I would've done better. I decided to come on for the last 10 minutes to show the lads how it's done. Oooooosh! Sausage!

Man of the Match: Pete Brock (in my opinion)

2012 Update!!!

No Ventura FC haven't gone into administration! Due to the bad weather & the Xmas break, Ventura FC are still waiting to resume their fixtures in 2012. Merry Xmas by the way & a Happy New Year. All the best! We'll be back soon.

In the meantime, here is a pic of what Fisherman's Rest player Andy Uttley would have looked like if we'd have played them during the bad weather.

Andy Uttley following a Brock tackle

Dune FM Reserves 1 - 5 Ventura FC

Sunday 20th November 2011,
Stanley High School, Southport

Scorers: Conkling (1), Hand (2), Frank (2)

Its now seven wins in a row for Ventura as they moved level on points (to fourth) with early pace setters West Lancs Utd. Even more pleasing for Ventura will be the fact that their run was extended by a performance that ranks as highly as any seen so far this season, with some clinical finishing to put five goals past their opponents & through using a new 4-3-3 formation.

It was Dunes FM however who took the lead after making an impressive start to the game, their passing confident & with pace. Trecharichi was looking to the ref for a foul, which wasn't given, & Dunes broke away to thunder a strike in at the near post. Their lead didn't last long however as Ventura forced a series of corners before Conkling scored one of his better goals with a curling shot that found the top corner. That equalising goal then visibly dented the confidence of Dunes as their play became more ragged & Ventura found their rhythm, Mike Hand then converting to make it 2-1 after some neat play.

The second half then became one-way traffic. Although working hard in midfield, Dunes were struggling to play the ball out of defence with Ventura players frequently catching them in possession. Trecharichi was disappointed to make way at half-time as he was replaced by Jason with Leigh switching to centre-midfield & Conkling reverting again to left full-back. Allison Frank was having an solid second half & caused Dunes countless problems on the left-flank, adding the first of his two goals to put Ventura 3-1 & out of sight. Mike Hand then added his second through a quick crisp finish that caught the Dunes keeper by surprise before Atherton & Lea were introduced with Ventura switching back to 4-4-2.

Frank added his second of the game after rounding the keeper before Jason had a contender for miss of the season as he somehow failed to convert from all of three yards out. It was a head in hands moment after he'd linked up well with Frank in the build up.

So now Ventura go into a two week mini break having won seven games in a row. Their next opponents will be the Fisherman's Rest FC who feature a former Ventura player in Andrew Uttley, younger brother of current AWOL Ventura player Paul. It promises to be an exciting clash as Ventura aim to make it a fantastic eight wins in row.

Also, well done to David Conkling for his MOTM performance against St Teresa's.

4-3-3 tactics used against Dunes FM Reserves

Ventura FC Team Photo 2011/2012 revealed!!!

(Back Row): Carl Nolan, David Conkling, Robbie Trecharichi, Matty Heron, Joey Suarez, Paul Leigh, Allison Frank, Damien Miller, Jamie Dalton, Jason.

(Front Row): Mike Burgess, Peter Brocklebank, Matty Slocombe, Mike Hand, Ian Palfrey.

Ventura FC 2 - 0 St Teresa's

Sunday 13th November 2011,
Bedford Park, Southport

Scorers: Trecharichi (1), Dalton (1)

Their sixth win in a row saw Ventura FC move ahead of Banks to fourth in the table, albeit with a stuttering performance against bottom club St Teresa's, who have yet to register any points so far this season. Despite fielding a stronger side than in the previous fixture, St Teresa's were content for large periods of the game to defend deep & in numbers, making it difficult at times for Ventura to break them down. Without question though the Man of the Match award must go to the Teresa's keeper who kept his side in the game with a series of crucial saves throughout, denying Dalton, Hand & Trecharichi when goals seemed a certainty.

After a comfortable but slightly laboured start by Ventura they then forced a series of corners, one of which Mike Hand headed towards goal only for the keeper to tip the ball onto the post & out for yet another corner. Indeed the first goal for Ventura came from a corner as Trecharichi found himself some space around the six yard box to finish with a rare headed goal. A couple of chances then fell the way of Dalton, who unusually for him was unable to apply the finishing touch. Half-time arrived then with Slocombe being virtually a spectator throughout, his only duties being to retrieve the ball after some wayward shooting from Teresa's.

The second half resumed with a similarly laboured pattern of play from Ventura, their usual urgency & passing game never really coming to the fore. From the kick off Conkling did a trademark solo run which on this occasion led to another corner. Jason also entered as a half-time substitute for Leigh & Teresa's for their part defended well but again offered very little in attack. Their keeper however was being kept busy & made two superbs saves against both Dalton & Trecharichi when one v one. Trecharichi was finding himself frequently in advanced positions & on another day could possibly have bagged a hat-trick, despite being deployed at full-back.

To add to Ventura's frustrations the referee was poor & all too often was willing to stop play by awarding free kicks for frivilous challenges or non-existent fouls. To make matters worse he then booked Hand for abusive language despite the fact that it was a comment of praise directed toward a team-mate & then failed to take action against a Teresa's player who committed the same offence in an axchange with Dalton. He also then failed to take action when Allison Frank was subjected to a shove from a Teresa's player after he had taken excpetion to a tackle.

To ease their worries Dalton finally got his now customary goal for Ventura to make it 2-0 & from there Ventura eased the game out with both Lea & Nolan entering the fray. It is now six wins in six games for Ventura FC & their rise up the table has been impressive to say the least. Their target now is to continue the winning streak & make it seven from seven next sunday against an unknown quantity in Dunes FC.

(Congratulations meanwhile to Jamie Dalton on his 2nd MOTM award in a row after his two goals in the win against Cafe D'Art)

Ventura tactics v St Teresa's

BREAKING NEWS: Damo's football boots found!

Following controversy after Ventura FC's game against Cafe D'Art we can confirm that the Orang-Utan's football boots have been found safe & well! Damo's place may be under threat however by the pacey looking gentleman who found his boots.

Robbie Trecharichi with Damo's boots found safe & well