Eagley      2            Euxton Villa      1

               ( 0 )                                 ( 1 )

                                            Whittaker

This was very much a game of two halves, as Villa played their best football of the season during the first forty five minutes. They worked hard in all area's of the pitch to deservedly go in at half time with a one goal lead, against a very well organised and hard working home side. The second half saw them once again contribute to their own downfall.

Both teams started the match at a fast pace and the early advantage fell to Eagley as after five minutes they broke down the right, a well hit shot forcing Justin Johnson into the first save of the game. Villa responded well, after nine minutes they forced a corner, from which Mick Bradshaw saw his first time shot saved by the keeper. This lifted the visitors and a minute later they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area, the kick was taken quickly by Adrian Briggs as the home side were still organising their wall, unfortunately the effort was just wide of the mark. For a time play was condensed into the midfield area with Villa working hard to keep the home side subdued.

The better chances were still falling to Euxton as they forced a number of corners. They came close on twenty one minutes as Heath Broadbent shot wide following a corner kick. With twenty five minutes played Villa took the lead as Adrian Briggs put through Tom Whittaker with a pinpoint pass, he in turn made no mistake driving the ball high into the net. The goal lifted Villa and they pushed hard for a second, after twenty eight minutes Anton Martin won a flick on, giving Tom Whittaker an opening, but his shot was just to high. Three minutes later John Winstanley released Tom Whittaker and his dangerous cross flashed across the face of goal. As the half started to draw to a close the home side started to get back into the game. On thirty eight minutes they skimmed the top of the Euxton bar with a long range shot. This was followed by a number of Eagley corners, but the Villa defence held firm. The last chance of the half fell to Adrian Briggs, but his shot was past the post.

The first half could be considered a job well done for Villa, and the instruction was to keep things tight for the first ten minutes of the second half. With a minute played a ball into the box was not cleared leaving the home side an easy finish to level the scores. The goal lifted the home side and a minute later their left winger cut in forcing Justin Johnson to tip the resulting shot around the post. Villa tried to get back the lead, and on forty nine minutes a Brad Dowling free kick flew over the bar, this was followed by an effort from John Winstanley which was just wide. Two minutes later Eagley got what proved to be the winning goal, as once again a ball into the Villa box was not dealt with, giving an easy goal.

From this point on the pattern of the game changed as the home side worked hard to stifle any chance of a Villa revival, and this worked well as the visitors did not create a decent opportunity for the remainder of the game. The home side could have gone further ahead, but for a number of excellent saves from Justin Johnson. If Villa had been able to get a second goal during their period of dominance in the first half then the outcome could have been different, but once again mistakes have cost valuable points.

Team   -  Johnson, Walker, Dickinson, Crombie, Dowling, ( Wood ) Winstanley, Broadbent, ( McGladrigan ) Bradshaw, ( Patterson ) Whittaker, Martin, Briggs.