27 August 08

What a difference a few days can make, as Villa returned to winning ways with a scintillating display of flowing football to which their hosts could find no answer.  Two goals each from Phil Woodman and Matt Atherton sent Villa supporters back down the 65 still glowing from the evening’s success. Atherton should in fact have had a hat-trick, but one of those ‘woops’ moments from a referee who otherwise had a good game, saw him brought back to take a free kick for a challenge which he had easily ridden and gone on to round the keeper. Five would have given the scoreline an even more lop sided appearance, and suggested that the evening was something of a stroll in the park, which it certainly was not. Burnley had more than their fair share of the play and several impressive individuals, but on the night everything clicked for Villa, and Ross Baxter was in unbeatable form between the sticks.

Early on it was hard to imagine the success to follow, as the first serious attack from either side saw Baxter at full stretch to touch the ball on to the post to prevent his side going behind. But then, in the eighteenth minute, Gavin Cooper picked out Woodman with an exquisite diagonal, and despite being fouled, the latter stayed on his feet to beat the keeper with admirable composure.

This heralded a period of superiority for the visitors, and a series of corners culminated in a rasping shot from Lee Chambers which flew inches over. A couple of minutes later Villa went close again from a corner, Sam Bolton this time with a powerful header which the keeper just got a palm to. Then, with the half drawing to a close, Michael Clitheroe sent Atherton away with a perfect through ball, and the lob that followed was right out the top drawer.

Two up at the turn around, villa shot out of the traps at the start of the second half. Craig chambers set up Cooper for a thunderbolt volley that just flashed wide. Five minutes later came Atherton’s aforementioned ‘second’ but it was not to be on this occasion. The reprieve was short lived however, as less than ten minutes later, Lee Chambers put Atherton in again over the top, and this time there was no mistake.

Eliot Dunn may not have added his name to the list of scorers, but still had a very effective evening and mid way through the second he set up Cooper for another stunning volley.  Fitting though, that Woodman should be the one to round things off after an excellent all round performance, Atherton this time turning provider.

A brilliant showing indeed, and although the creative players made all the headlines, much credit must go to the resolute defence , ably marshalled by the impressive Darren Davies, who has hardly put a foot wrong all season. Spare a thought for Rhenden Pillay. Given the chance to show what he might bring to the first team, his appearance lasted all of two minutes before a clatter in the corner put paid to his evening. Having used all permitted subs, Villa were forced to play out the last twenty five minutes with ten men.

Villa line-Up: Baxter, C. Chambers(Kirkpatrick 60), Davies, L. Chambers, Bolton, Woodman, Bingham (Pillay 64), Cooper(Briggs 64), Clitheroe, Dunn, Atherton.