Euxton Villa 2  Stoneclough 2

Goldline Trophy Group Stage 

Villa began their defence of the Goldline Trophy in less than convincing style against a determined Stoneclough side, who, having gained promotion to The West Lancs Prem, proved they will be no pushover when league business starts in a couple of weeks time. 

Territorial advantage was evenly distributed during a fast-paced and entertaining first half, but it was the home side who grabbed the initiative with two goals. Firstly George Craddock sprung the off-side trap and coolly rounded the keeper, and the second a superb solo effort from Tom Whittaker who smashed the ball high into the rigging with his ‘weaker’ foot, having been superbly picked out by a tremendous ball from Stuart Bingham. Villa should have been out of sight before the interval in an incident that saw a clever Craddock lob come back off the bar, and Bingham crash the rebound off the post. Craddock looked to have a tap-in from the second rebound, but somehow the keeper stuck out a foot to turn it round the post. 

The second half began with Villa dropping down a gear and prematurely engaging cruise control. Sensing this, the visitors gained enough encouragement to grab the initiative, and were rewarded with an early strike when the home defence failed to deal with a corner. The momentum was now well and truly with Stoneclough, and for the next half hour or so Villa could hardly get a kick. The equaliser duly came in a move that was the mirror image of Villa’s first.

Although the Euxton side rallied and finished relatively strongly, they were unable to seriously test the keeper, and to be fair the draw was the least the visitors deserved for their efforts. Highlights for Villa in a generally disappointing evening were two excellent wing-back displays from Craig Chambers and Michale Bromham, and a very promising debut from new boy Gavin Copoper

Villa play Daisy Hill on Thursday evening  (24^th) at 6.30, again in the Goldline, then they have a friendly against Rochdale on Saturday 26^th with a 12 noon kick off.

 Villa Line-up:– Baxter, C.Chambers, Davies, Dickinson (Brown), L.Chambers, Bromham (Stewart), Woodman (Kirkpatrick), Bingham, Cooper, Whittaker, Craddock. (Salisbury, Bibby)