Victory Park  16 February 09

This oft postponed tie finally got under way, in conditions that were ideal for playing football. Pity then from a Villa perspective that the Euxton side pretty much declined to do so until eighty five minutes had elapsed, when a late Stoneclough strike stung them into action like a whiff of smelling salts. Too late, however, and Stoneclough’s superior passing, orchestrated for the most part by Phil Hill in midfield, and ultimately better discipline, carried them to their first Goldline final.

Having beaten Stoneclough home and away in the league, Villa started as favourites on paper. But with a few ‘guests’ to bolster their ranks, Stoneclough set out to overturn the form book, and were quicker to every loose ball and much more accurate with their passing The first half in particular belonged to the east Lancashire side, and Villa couldn’t seem to construct any telling moves from open play, as pass after pass failed to find it’s intended target, and possession was cheaply conceded.

Stoneclough came close to an early lead when a low drive flashed inches wide of Baxter’s right hand post, and five minutes later the Big Man had to keep his concentration to palm over a dipping shot from distance.  Villa’s most likely route to success seemed to be from set pieces, though dead ball specialist Gavin Cooper hit the wall with his first effort, and the roof of the stand with his second.  Matt Atherton nearly capitalised when on the end of a longer range effort, but the keeper blocked it round the post, and Ross Dickinson narrowly failed to connect, stretching to get his head on another Cooper free, after sneaking in late round the back.

In fact, it was two minutes into the second half before Villa had their first serious effort on goal from open play when Elliot Dunn fired just wide from twenty yards. Five minutes later, Atherton hit a stunning volley from twenty five, but the keeper kept had plenty of time watch it and was able to tip it over.  Villa were certainly enjoying more of the play than they had in the first half, but nevertheless Stoneclough were next to go close when a delicate chip on the run looked from the touchline to have dropped in, but in fact it rippled the outside of the net.

Then, fifteen minutes from the end of normal time, Villa thought they had made the breakthrough. Dunn worked his magic down the right and delivered a perfect cross on to the head of George Craddock, who powered a goal bound header, but somehow keeper Craig Tebay flung himself at full stretch to turn a certain goal round the post.

This acted as an extra spur to Stoneclough, and conversely a few of the Villa lads were showing signs of tiredness.  Ian Kirkpatrick came off second best in a fifty-fifty and had to go off for treatment. When he came back he was clearly struggling, and perhaps that contributed to the foul he gave away when he mistimed a tackle out near the half way. From the free kick, Steve Harrison floated a long ball into the box, which, although seeking out an attacking head, floated over everybody and came down off the underside of the bar, and was deemed to have crossed the line before the defence could scramble it away.

With five quality subs on the bench, Mark McDonnell sent on David Heald and Stuart Bingham in an effort to pull the game out of the fire in the very few minutes that remained.  Suddenly, albeit somewhat late in the day, Villa realised that if they were going to get anything on the night then it was going to require a bit of effort, and they threw everything at the opposition in the few minutes that were left. But it was too late, and the damage done was not to be redressed. With everyone forward, Stoneclough were able to exploit the space, and only a super one handed palm over by Baxter prevented the scorliine taking on an lop sided look. Petty stoppages littered the closing stages, coupled with some desperate last ditch defending, and overheated reaction to some of those saw Stoneclough reduced to ten men and Villa to nine in stoppage time.

No repeat glory for Villa then, but our best wish go to Stoneclough who will represent our league at The Reebok, where they will surely enjoy the experience as we all did last year.

Villa Line –Up Ross Baxter, Darren Davies, Ross Dickinson (Stuart Bingham 86), Lee Chambers, Sam Bolton, Gavin Cooper, Elliot Dunn, Ian Kirkpatrick (David Heald 86), Matt Atherton, George Craddock, Chris Farrer.