In the end this proved an easy enough victory for Villa, but having scored twice before five minutes had elapsed and then proceeded to spurn half a dozen or more gilt edged chances, including a missed penalty, in the first half alone, it could and should have been considerably more comfortable. We have all had experience of the proverbial ‘game of two halves’, but this was more a ‘game of three half hours’. During the first, we were treated to Villa at their free flowing best, with Gavin Cooper pulling the strings and directing attacking moves from all parts of the pitch. Then the visitors’ keeper contrived to get himself sent off and for the second half hour play became very scrappy as both sides tried to adjust to the unexpected change. With the home side having doubled their tally and put the game beyond Poulton, the last half hour became a dire affair, partly brought about by somewhat disappointing refereeing.

The home support could hardly have asked for a better start. Villa were awarded a free kick thirty yards out. Matt Atherton effected a dummy run over the ball, and Gavin Cooper stepped up and smashed the ball into the top left corner. Shortly afterwards, Cooper turned provider with a precise knock to the far post where Craig Chambers arrived right on cue to volley home from close range. Two up and only four minutes on the watch.

Then followed a series of near things, or blatant misses, depending on how generous your point of view. Eliot Dunn shot wide from a tight angle, Michael Clitheroe smashed one against the junction of post and bar, and Atherton fired wide from a good position.
Shortly before the half hour, the Poulton keeper raced from his box to up-end Dunn out near the corner, yellow card correctly administered. A matter of just a couple of minutes later, same two players, same thing, though this time more calculated and inside the box. Nevertheless, the ref, having awarded the spot kick, made no sign that he was minded to take any further action. However, not content with that, the keeper proceeded to talk himself into further trouble, leaving the official with little option but to send him packing via a second yellow. Sam Bolton screwed the penalty kick wide.

The remainder of the first half, and indeed the start of the second held little to inspire prose, though Villa again passed up several opportunities to stretch their lead. Then Clitheroe and Atherton combined with a piece of magic down the right and Ian Kirkpatrick applied the quality finish the move deserved. Two minutes later, the match was effectively over as a contest when Craig Chambers picked out Clitheroe with an exquisite cross-field ball, and he smacked it home with a measured shot. Villa were awarded a second penalty when Cooper was comprehensively upended as he was about to pull the trigger. Skipper Darren Davies stepped up this time. We’re still looking for the ball!

Over as a contest, and indeed over as a spectacle, with the last half hour descending to near farce at times, and best glossed over as far as any reporting is concerned. Suffice to say that a match without any real malice was littered with more than a dozen cards, and had any consistency been applied to their distribution, the game would have to have been abandoned due to lack of players!

Villa line-Up: Baxter, C.Chambers (Whewell 62), Davies, Dickinson, L.Chambers, Kirkpatrick, Cooper, Bolton, Clitheroe (Briggs 62), Dunn, Atherton