West Lancs Prem  12 August 08

The weather was anything but glorious for the first midweek fixture of the new season, causing a switch to the second choice pitch, but fortunately the rain that had persisted throughout the day relented long enough for the players and spectators to enjoy another thrilling and close-fought encounter. Villa have been playing a very entertaining stuff of late, and indeed the change of surface failed to dampen their enthusiasm as in fact both sides contrived to serve up a very watchable affair.

There has however, been a paucity of goals in nearly all of Villa’s outings so far this season, and tonight was no exception.  Losing goal grabber in chief George Craddock to a recurring tightening of a hamstring with not much more than twenty minutes on the clock didn’t help, and although the home side enjoyed the lion’s share of the action, in the end just the one early strike was enough to secure them all three points against the division’s new boys.  George Craddock got in behind on fifteen minutes and picked out Matt Atherton in the box, and although the latter was under pressure and somewhat off balance, he was still able to get a shot away with enough craft to give the keeper no chance.

Plenty of eye catching pass-and-move football followed, but neither keeper had a lot to get excited about. On the evidence of their two visits to The Villa, Stoneclough will have no trouble retaining their newly gained Premiership status and will no doubt harbour ambitions more lofty than that. If on the other hand villa can convert their superb build-up play into goals, somebody soon is in for a spanking perhaps?

Freckleton visit this Saturday (16^th at 3.0pm) followed by a trip to champions Garstang on Tuesday evening. 

Villa Line-Up: Baxter, C.Chambers, Davies, L.Chambers, Bolton, Woodman, Kirkpatrick (Bingham 68), Cooper, Atherton, Dunn, Craddock (Clitheroe 24)