( 1 )                                ( 1 )
                                                      Heald
                                                      L.Chambers

A pulsating game between two well matched sides saw Villa come from a goal down the take three valuable away points.

The match started at a fast pace with both sides trying to gain the early initiative, it was obvious from the start that the home side were going to shoot at every opportunity. On eight minutes it was Villa who had the first clear chance. Rhenden Pillay broke down the right at pace, his dangerous low ball into the box fell to Phil Woodman whose low shot forced the keeper to turn the ball around the post. Villa kept pressing, forcing a number of corners. They had a lucky escape after twelve minutes when Barnoldswick's shoot on sight policy nearly paid off when a fierce drive came back off the Villa post.

Villa continued to probe, Rhenden Pillay again caused problems with his pace as he drove down the centre before shooting just wide. Then Gavin Cooper released Phil Woodman with a pinpoint through ball, only for the keeper to block his shot. The home side were also looking very dangerous and took the lead on eighteen minutes when the Villa defence were unable to clear the ball and from well outside the box an unstoppable drive flew into the top corner.

All credit to the visitors, they kept their composure and went back on the attack, they were rewarded four minutes later when a corner on the right caused panic in the home defence and David Heald drove the ball home at the far post. Three minutes later they came close again , Rhenden Pillay attacked down the right, his early ball in set up a chance for Pavel Zverina but a bad bobble saw the chance disappear. The Villa midfield were now closing down quickly restricting the home sides shooting chances.
Barnoldswick did come close on the half hour when a through ball forced Dave Bibby into a great save to keep his side level. In the latter stages of the half Villa again had the better chances, Pavel Zverina put a shot over the bar, Phil Woodman had the ball in the net only to be ruled offside. Then
David Heald headed over following a free kick on the left.

At the start of the second half it was again Villa who had the early chances, Pavel Zverina caused problems down the left, with three minutes gone he set up Sam Shone who hit the post , but the chance was ruled offside. Due to Villa's hard work in midfield the home side changed tactics,looking now to hit long balls into the Villa box. They came close with a shot just wide of the post. Then following a free kick on the right Gavin Cooper flashed a shot across the face of goal, he came close again minutes later when set up by Lee Chambers.

Baroldswick were still very dangerous, Dave Bibby was forced to tip a ball onto his crossbar before the ball was cleared for a corner. On sixty five minutes Villa scored what proved to be the decisive goal. Lee Chambers broke down the left before seeing his wickedly swerving shot deceive the keeper and find the net. The home side increased the pressure, but this left them vulnerable at the back, both Phil Woodman and Pavel Zverina had chances to increase Villa's lead.

The whole Villa team played well, but special mention must go to Ross Dickinson and man of the match James O'Loughlin for the way they dealt with the aerial bombardment which came at them for much of the game. In the end a hard won three points against one of the top sides in the division.

Team   -  Bibby, Salisbury, ( Ryder ) O'Loughlin, Dickinson, L.Chambers, Pillay, Woodman, Heald, Zverina, Cooper, ( Briggs ) Shone, ( Mason )

Not used - Bingham