Goldline Trophy Group Stage    2nd  August 08

 Villa eased themselves into the quarter finals of the Goldline Trophy as group winners, with a routine away win against the Bury side. Things could have been considerably more comfortable however, with the benefit of a more assertive and decisive referee willing to afford the ball players a bit of protection.

Villa started much the brighter and won a series of corners and free kicks inside the first twenty minutes, but were unable to capitalise on the territorial advantage, and the Vale keeper was alive to those efforts that did find their way through. At the other end, forays into the Villa box were few, but when they did happen there was an uncharacteristic nervousness in evidence, but the goal was rarely threatened.

Villa should have opened up the lead on the half hour when a poorly struck back pass fell into the path of Eliot Dunn, but such was the surprise at finding himself with so much time and space that the keeper was able to smother before he could take advantage. The visitors were enjoying a lot of the ball, and finding particular joy down their right flank, but still it looked as though the teams would go in at the interval level, until Craig Chambers capped an excellent first half with a floating shot from a wide angle which the keeper could only watch as it looped over his head and nestled into the far corner.

The second half continued in much the same vein, with, if anything, traffic being even more one way than in the first. Minutes into the half we were treated to an early contender for team goal of the season. Sam Bolton and Gavin Cooper combined in a superb piece of interplay down the left, culminating in a very neat pass into the path of Eliot Dunn, who opened up his body to curve a low twenty yarder into the bottom corner.

Villa played out the remaining minutes well within themselves, with Mark McDonnell taking full advantage of the rules to ensure all sixteen got a run out. Almost inevitably the day ended on a sour note, Tom Whittaker being the unlucky recipient of a nasty challenge and sustaining an injury which will see him out of action and off work for a while.

With almost indecent haste, the quarter final is on Wednesday evening when Villa are at home to Tempest FC with a 6.30 kick-off. 

Villa line-up: Bibby, C.Chambers, Davies, L.Chambers, Bolton, Woodman, Whittaker, Bingham, Cooper, Craddock, Dunn (Kirpatrick, Shone, Dickinson, Salisbury, Bland)