Euxton Villa 1  -  2  Fulwood Amateurs

                         Atherton
 

A must win game for both teams saw Villa's extremely talented side for once unable to play up to their true potential against a well organised Fulwood side.

The game started with both sides adapting a cautious approach, but it was the home team that created the better opportunities. After five minutes Villa came close when a through ball from midfield released Elliot Dunn, unfortunately his effort was just a foot wide of the post. The visitors replied three minutes later with a free kick on the edge of the area, luckily the effort flew into the wall. Villa continued to press forcing a number of corners which Fulwood managed to contain. On twenty minutes the visitors had their best chance when a ball into the box forced keeper Shaun
Gibbs into a brave save with his legs.

The home side were still creating the best chances and on twenty eight minutes skipper Craig Chambers saw his free kick fly past the foot of the post, five minutes later Sam Shone headed on a ball which released Matt Atherton who saw his first time long range effort was turned away for a corner. The visitors at this stage were very much playing a containing game with Villa unable to capitalise. The home side came close again after thirty four minutes , when Mick Bradshaw won the ball in midfield, before releasing Matt Atherton who was unlucky to see his first time effort fly over the bar.
 

The pattern of the game continued until half time, with the home side trying to press and the visitors happy to contain.

Villa came out for the second half feeling they had edged the first forty five minutes without achieving the vital breakthrough, but as often happens in games like this, they got caught and punished five minutes after the restart when they failed to clear a ball down the left wing, Fulwood seized onto the opportunity and scored with a low shot into the bottom corner.
 

Worse was to come five minutes later when a ball into the box was not dealt with, allowing the Fulwood number seven to claim his second goal of the game.

From this point on Fulwood were happy to hold onto what they had,effectively inviting Villa to try and break them down, this tactic afforded Villa more possession and chances started to develop. On Fifty eight minutes Kevin Ormerod forced the keeper to save his header following a corner. With twenty minutes remaining he came close again, this time heading over from a corner. From this point Villa were throwing everything into attack, going to three at the back and pushing Kevin Ormerod up front.

With eighteen minutes remaining Mick Bradshaw was unlucky to see his free kick turned over the bar, on eighty minutes a header down by Kevin Ormerod set up Danny Walker but his shot flew wide. On the stroke of full time Villa pulled a goal back, when a Matt Atherton corner was fumbled into the net by the Fulwood keeper, but by then this was too little too late. Villa continued to press but time was running out. Over the season the bulk of this team have produced some outstanding performances, and are likely to again the next time they take the field. This is taking nothing away from Fulwood who are easily one of the best sides in the division.

Team - Gibbs C.Chambers, Ormerod, Crombie, Winstanley, M.Conway, O'Loughlin,

          ( Parkin ) Bradshaw, ( Walker ) Atherton, Dunn, Shone, ( Nolan )