18 October 08

I’m sure you will be familiar with the expression, ‘from the sublime to the ridiculous’, well this game had examples from both ends of that particular spectrum, from the near sublime, to the frankly ridiculous. The sublime came in the form of some very fine football from both sides in one of the most watchable matches of the season so far. The ridiculous? Well if you were there you will know to what I refer, and if you were not I feel it would be a disservice to the players to dwell on it here. Better to focus on the positives, and indeed there were plenty as both teams overcame the blustery conditions to serve up a treat and once again prove that there is little to choose between the two.

In truth the weather was fairly benign by Freckleton standards, in fact I don’t believe the wind got much above Force 9 all afternoon, and although the heavens did open right on cue at the first whistle, in fact the driving rain was only intermittent. Freckleton grabbed the early initiative and helped by some early nervy defending nearly found instant success. Skipper Darren Davies caused consternation when his under hit back pass had Ross Baxter scrambling to try to recover the situation, and it required his wonderful last ditch block to avert disaster. But the shaky start passed quickly and in fact the defence went on to have an outstanding afternoon.

Shortly after it was Villa’s turn to go close when George Craddock combined with Sam Bolton, and the latter’s exquisite pass set up Pavel Zverina, and this time it was Freckleton called upon to find the goal saving block to deny the big Czech an early debut goal.

Play continued to ebb and flow as both tried to work back to front with the ball on the floor in search of an opening, but it was the visitors who had the better opportunities to make the breakthrough. Zverina and Elliot Dunn carved an avenue down the inside right channel, ending with Dunn standing the ball up with precision to the far post where Craddock met it right on cue, but his header flashed just wide. Five minutes from the interval, Craddock should have opened his account when he neatly beat the off-side and found himself away and clear with just the keeper to beat, but the latter came smartly off his line to push the ball round the post, fine piece of keeping

Then, as play entered first half stoppage time, Zverina collected the ball with back to goal, and , as he had been doing successfully throughout the half, held it up waiting for others to join in. This time he was tackled from behind, and as he was inside the box, a penalty was awarded. ‘Went down too easily’, came the concerted cry from opposition players and bench. Soft perhaps, but still a foul nevertheless. Sam Bolton grabbed the ball making it clear that although he missed last time of asking, no-one was about to usurp his position. This time he despatched with all his old confidence.

Protests continued after the half time whistle, and the conclusion by the travelling support was that redress might well be forthcoming. Sure enough, shortly after the restart, the next time Zverina collected the ball with back to goal and was again tackled from behind, instead of the free kick he should have been awarded he found himself the recipient of a yellow card, for what, nobody knows.

Nevertheless this was still an entertaining game, and could still go either way. Shortly after the hour, the home side won a free kick out near the corner. The ball was delivered hard and low, perhaps in a move from the training ground, and Scot Sugden stuck out a foot to flick the ball past Baxter who could do little about it.

If anything the pace stepped up again, and five minutes later Villa were awarded a free kick just inside the opposition half. Gavin Cooper floated the ball beyond the far post where Zverina met it and guided it into the path of the onrushing Bolton who smashed his side into the lead again.

Once again back came Freckleton, but Villa stood firm at the back. Mark McDonnell freshened things up with a couple of changes, and shortly after Matt Atherton joined the fray came the move of the match. A sweeping attack saw Phil Woodman deliver a pinpoint cross onto Atherton’s forehead, and as he was in full flight when he connected, his header had bags of power, but the move was countered with an equally excellent save by the keeper throwing himself full stretch to his left.

A tremendous game, and it should be noted that neither trainer was called upon in either half. And as the home bench were operating a multi ball system, there was no time for the players to draw breath, soon as it went out it was straight back. Nevertheless on and on we went. And on. Ninety four minutes gone the question was asked, how long left?’  ‘ One minute,’ came the reply. Three minutes later we were still playing – ‘he’s desperate to give us something’, said the home coach. And indeed, in the ninety seventh minute, ball into the box, down went an attacker, penalty, 2 - 2, final whistle – say no more.

Notwithstanding, lots of positives for Villa to take from this game.  Injuries to key players have been a feature of the manager’s selection problems to date, but after a superb first team debut from Pavel Zverina and a very promising fifteen minutes from Craig O’Neil, perhaps such problems will take on a different slant from now.