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Kirkham & Wesham 1 Euxton
Villa 2
( 1 )
( 1 )
Bretherton
Atherton
Villa welcomed back keeper Shaun Gibbs following a serious
injury, and they responded with a fine away win against one of
the strongest teams in the division.
Kirkham started the stronger of the two sides, putting Villa
under immediate pressure, this paid off as they took the lead
after five minutes when a corner was not cleared and the ball
was poked into the net following a goalmouth scramble. For the
next fifteen minutes Euxton struggled to get into the game. The
home side failed to add to their early strike and gradually the
visitors started to get their own game together. Villa were on
level terms after twenty minutes when a high ball in from the
right was met by Neil Bretherton whose glancing header easily
beat the keeper.
The home side were still dangerous and they close themselves
three minutes later with a shot that was just wide of the post.
For the rest of the half the game was very even, on thirty five
minutes Villa were awarded a free kick for handball on the edge
of the area, Neil Bretherton took the kick but his effort was
wide. Kickham then came close after thirty eight minutes when
they broke into the Villa box, only a fine blocking save with
his legs by Shaun Gibbs kept them out. Towards the end of the
half it was Villa who had the best chances, with five minutes
remaining James O'Loughlin released Anton Martin who turned the
ball back for James O'Loughlin, his shot was blocked and Mark
Swift following up also had a shot blocked. Two minutes later
Kevin Ormrod put through Liam Conway whose shot was turned away
for a corner, from the kick Ross Dickinson headed the ball wide,
Villa still pressed and on forty five minutes Mick Bradshaw put
through Liam Conway with a great pass, but the Kirkham defenders
managed to crowd him out.
Villa started the second half as they finished the first,
sensing the game was there to be won, on fifty minutes Mark
Swift drove in a free kick, which again the home side managed to
defend, five minutes later Villa were awarded a free kick in a
dangerous position, again Mark Swift saw his effort saved.
All the pressure was now coming from Villa, Anton Martin broke
down the right before cutting the ball back to Kevin Ormrod, his
shot was just to high. It now seemed only a matter of time
before Villa got the goal their pressure deserved. On the hour
Ross Dickinson was again close with a header from a Matthew
Atherton corner. With sixty five minutes played Liam Conway cut
in from the right, his left foot shot was saved, and Mark Swift
following up again saw his effort blocked.
The breakthrough came on sixty eight minutes when Neil
Bretherton skilfully played through Matthew Atherton who kept
his nerve before beating the keeper with a low shot, it was no
more than Villa deserved for their second half pressure. To
their credit Kirkham responded , heading over the bar on seventy
five minutes, but Villa came back and a great ball in from the
right by Mick Bradshaw gave Ross Dickinson a chance, but his
header was just wide of the mark. Kirkham were now throwing
everyone forward to try and take something from the game, but
the Villa back four were outstanding. With five minutes
remaining Adrian Briggs had a chance to add a third as he beat
the offside trap, only for the Kirkham keeper to pull off a fine
save. Overall Villa's performance gave them a great victory as
the team improves from game to game.
Team - Gibbs, Crombie, Dickinson, Ormrod, Swift, L.Conway,(
Winstanley ) O'Loughlin, Bradshaw, ( Shone ) Atherton,
Bretherton, Martin, ( Briggs )
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