JOINT assistant manager Tom Davies hailed Feckenham’s 3-2 victory over local rivals Fairfield Villa as “fantastic” but has warned the Millers to expect a backlash from the same opposition this weekend.
Goals from Matt Green, Ben Welsh and Connor Perry-Holmes sealed maximum points for Feckenham at the Entaco and extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight matches.
The Millers sit seventh in Midland League Division Two – ten points and three places above Villa – who have the chance to gain instant revenge on Saturday (2pm) when the sides meet at Fairfield’s Recreation Ground and Davies has told his side to be on red alert.
On Saturday, the hosts took a tenth-minute lead when Jack Brimmell beat his marker on the left and delivered a fine cross for Green to head home his first Feckenham goal.
Fairfield had their moments but it was Feckenham largely in the ascendancy and they doubled their advantage shortly afterwards when Green threaded a through ball into Welsh and the forward turned his marker before firing a low strike into the net.
Feckenham’s Max Tibbins curled an effort just over the bar early in the second half before Fairfield reduced their arrears in the 55th minute with a fine 35-yard strike from Lewis Phillips.
A defensive mistake then allowed Villa to level on 70 minutes through Ellis Blakemore but Feckenham responded well and substitute Adam Garmson twice went close before the Millers clinched a deserved victory in the first minute of injury time when Joe Nokes, Perry-Holmes and Brimmell combined on the counter-attack, resulting in Perry-Holmes netting from close range to spark scenes of jubilation.
“It was a fantastic result against one of our local rivals and another step in the right direction,” said Davies.
“I felt we dominated the first half, created good chances and took them well. In the second half Fairfield came back into the game but the boys showed a lot of character to win the game late on.
“It shows how far this young group has come and the change in mentality and belief they now have in the process and themselves as players.
“It’ll be an even bigger task to go away to Fairfield who have a good side and now have that bit between their teeth in wanting to right a wrong after the weekend’s game.”
