( 0 ) ( 1 )
M.Conway
Thompson


A very tight game against a very confident side, but on overall chances created Villa by the end just deserved the three points.

It was the visitors who started the game strongly playing very composed football, their first chance came after five minutes when Rhenden Pillay whipped in a dangerous ball from the left which was headed clear. Villa continued pressing, a long throw from Danny Brown had to be turned away for a corner. The Euxton pressure finally paid off after ten minutes. They were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area, the Garstang keeper managed to turn Damien Stewarts well taken free kick onto the post, but Matt Conway following up was on hand to put the ball in the net.

At this point Villa were flying, two minutes after the goal they came close again when great control from Liam Conway released Danny Dawson who saw his shot saved by the keeper. Damien Stewart then came close, cutting in from the left his shot was only inches over the bar. He repeated this a few minutes later, this time the keeper had to tip his effort over the bar. Then Rhenden Pillay and Danny Dawson combined well on the right before creating an opening for Mick Bradshaw who shot into the side netting.

As the half continued both Damien Stewart and Rhenden Pillay came close to increasing Villa's lead. Garstang had their first serious attempt on goal after thirty two minutes, they forced a corner on the right, which was cleared, the ball back in was then headed wide of the Villa goal. The last ten minutes were the home sides best spell of the half, with two minutes remaining James O'Loughlin cleared a shot off the line, then Rhys Crombie was forced to head a corner clear. Then on forty five minutes a shot came back off the Villa bar. During the follow up the ball was put into the Villa net, but the effort was correctly ruled offside. Villa came off with their lead intact, but regretting they had not taken more of their chances.

The second half was more evenly contested with fewer clear chances, on fifty minutes Danny Dawson cut in from the left before curling a shot just wide.
He came close again on the hour, this time attacking down the right before shooting across the face of goal. Five minutes later Rhenden Pillay forced the keeper into a save at the foot of his post. A minute later and the home side drew level with a low shot into the bottom corner.

From this point it was the visitors who pushed for a winner, with twenty minutes remaining Matt Conway cut in from the right before shooting wide.
Then Rhys Crombie shot wide, following good work by Mick Bradshaw. This was followed a minute later by a low shot from Liam Conway which again was just wide. Villa regained the lead on eighty three following a corner. The initial effort was cleared, but the ball back in hit a defender , and Michael Thompson following up reacted first to hit the ball home.

With five minutes remaining Villa could have increased their lead following a corner, Rhys Crombie met the ball and his hooked shot was narrowly wide.
The Villa defence throughout were excellent, but man of the match was Matt Conway who gave a faultless display of midfield play.

Team - Gibbs, McAlister, Brown, O'Loughlin, Crombie, L.Conway, Bradshaw, M Conway, Stewart, ( Swift ) Pillay, ( Thompson ) Dawson, ( Whewell )

Not used - Wood