Association of Northern Counties Cup   Semi Final  28 February 09

Euxton put their recent disappointments behind them and produced a performance that carried them to the final of this glamorous representative competition. The first half was in fact very even, with both sides getting the ball down and playing a thoughtful, passing game, and although both had a gilt-edged chance to grab the lead, the interval arrived without the deadlock broken. The second half saw the Euxton side take the initiative and pretty much dictate things, capping a fine performance with two well taken goals to delight their sizable following.

The visitors were first to be tested, when the first corner of the match resulted in Sam Bolton conceding a free kick just outside the box, with the resultant strike on goal flashing just wide.  At the other end, it was another corner that lead to Euxton’s best chance of the half. Gavin Cooper, picked out Ross Dickinson’s clever run to the near post. He in turn glanced a deft header onto the boot of Sam Bolton, who, although virtually unmarked, somehow contrived to blast over from three yards. Looked easier to score.

Five minutes later it was the Liverpool side’s turn to rue a missed opportunity. A free kick twenty five yards out was scrambled away but fell to an attacker on the edge of the box, but his attempt to lift it over the bodies in the box resulted in his volley coming back off the bar.

Mark McDonnell effected a few subtle changes to the formation during the interval, and whilst both teams tried to pick up from where they left off, from the outset it was clear that the West Lancs side were going to have the upper hand.

Their first chance came five minutes into the half, when Sam Bolton fed David Heald with a clever ball into the box, but the big striker took too long to set for a strike and the keeper was able to block to good effect. Matt Atherton was next to find himself with a chance to open the scoring, breaking into the box on the end of a well weighted through ball, but his second touch was just heavy enough to allow the keeper to once again block the subsequent shot.

The breakthrough finally came twenty minutes or so from the final whistle. Sam Bolton won a free kick near the left wing corner. Gavin Cooper picked out David Heald on the far corner of the box, and although the angle was tight, the power in his shot gave the keeper no chance.

The Euxton side continued to hold sway, and ten minutes later found a quality goal to put the tie to bed. Elliot Dunn, who always seems to have time  when in possession, picked up the ball round the centre circle. Looking up, he floated, and I mean with inch perfect precision, a ball over the top for Matt Atherton to run on to. Said run took him clear of everyone, leaving the keeper no option but to sprint from his line to try to close down the danger, but Atherton simply dinked the ball over his advance into the now vacant net.

Atherton had another chance to ice the cake late on when Cooper, having a very influential afternoon, put him through again, but this time the keeper was equal to it, and the final whistle came with the Lancashire side in control, but without further addition to the scoreline.

It may have started as a bit of a journey into the unknown for the visitors, but ended as a very satisfactory afternoon for all concerned. Both sides tried to play the game as it should be, and there was a pleasing absence of malice from any quarter. Finding himself without the availability of several key players, Mark McDonnell was forced into a few positional changes he might not otherwise have made, and the players responded with a fine and hard working performance. The final will be against the winners of the other semi between the representatives from Cheshire and West Riding, and will again be away. Watch this space for details.

Euxton Villa Line-up: Matt Jackson, Darren Davies, Ross Dickinson, Lee Chambers, Michael Clitheroe, Sam Bolton, Gavin Cooper, Elliot Dunn (Craig Chambers 87), Mat Atherton, George Craddock (Pavel Zverina 65), David Heald (John Salisbury 87)