Nodley Wright, Freelance WriterVILLAGE UNITED yesterday continued their steady climb up the Wray and Nephew National Premier League table yesterday with a 1-0 win over relegation battlers Arlington at the Elliston Wakeland Centre.
The quick-thinking Omar Allen gave them the winner in the 54th minute, pushing them up to a provisional seventh place with eight points in the second round and sixth overall with 28 points.
Arlington remained in 10th place with nine points with a better goal difference than 11th-placed Reno, who held Tivoli to a 0-0 draw at Frome.
Yesterday's win for Village was a welcome reversal of form for the home team, who were beaten midweek by Sandy Bay in the Red Stripe Champions Cup competition.
"That (loss to Sandy Bay) was a downside of the whole rebuilding programme," a relaxed Village coach Dr. Dean Weatherly said at the end of the game.
DEFINITELY REFRESHING
"Coming here today it was definitely refreshing to see, at least in the second half of the game, that we started pushing the ball around, finding players and having good off the ball movement. There was also more cohesiveness in our play," he added.
There was still an area of dissatisfaction for Dr. Weatherly as he felt he did not get enough out of his midfield. This he said could be sorted out within the upcoming two-week break when new, younger players could be introduced.
For Arlington's Geoffrey Maxwell, the result was not a bad one under the circumstances.
"I think that we did very well. It was a very careless goal given away by the defence which cost us the game. For a team that has not been training I think it is a hell of a result to come down here, play Village and come away with a 1-0 loss," he said.
The game itself was not of the highest quality especially in the first half. There was not much between the teams but Village looked a shade better as they managed to force a save or two out of goalkeeper Shane Mattis. Forward Omar Allen for Village showed some ability.
Second half action saw Village clearly looking better than the opposition who appeared to tire. Lack of concentration cost Arlington the goal as a ball headed on by the towering Charles Hines in the direction of his similarly tall strike partner Allen, was shielded by defender Xavier Watt for Mattis to collect. Sensing that both men were not on the same page, Allen quickly poked his foot between Watt's legs to give his team the points.
Following their go-ahead goal Village created and missed several chances but they would not pay for them as Arlington never managed much in terms of attack.
