( 3 ) ( 0 )
L.Conway 4
Atherton ( Pen. )
Whittaker

Villa produced a stunning display of attacking football to win the match and take the runners up spot for the third season on the trot, winning fifteen and drawing one of their last eighteen games.

From the start Villa went on the offensive, putting the visitors on the back foot as they pressed for goals. On five minutes Elliot Dunn worked an opening down the left setting up Liam Conway whose shot was blocked. One minute later he put the home side ahead when a mix up between the goalkeeper and a defender allowed him to nick the ball and turn it into an empty net.
This was just the start Villa wanted and they continued to press. After ten minutes Matt Conway played through Liam Conway, but the shot was blocked, a minute later Mick Bradshaw put a shot just wide.

The game was one way traffic with Villa looking to build on their goal difference. On fifteen minutes a James O'Loughlin free kick was headed over by Danny Nolan. The pressure continued to mount, Matt Conway was unlucky to see a long range effort drift just wide. A minute later Villa got their second when an attempted clearance by the Norcross keeper was charged down by Danny Nolan, allowing Liam Conway to score his second goal of the night.

On the half hour Danny Nolan twice came close to scoring, he firstly had a shot tipped over by the keeper, then following two Villa corners his header hit the side netting. Minutes later Norcross had their first serious attempt on goal with a first time shot which was comfortably dealt with by Shaun Gibbs. It was then back onto the attack for Villa, Matt Atherton came close after being put through by Danny Nolan. Five minutes from the break Villa got their third, Danny Nolan was again involved playing in a dangerous low ball from the left which was met by Liam Conway, his low shot beating the keeper to give him a first half hat trick. Villa could not be complacent as just before half time Norcross hit the post.

It was important that Villa started the second half as they had the first, and after two minutes Matt Atherton tested the keeper with a long range shot, but a minute later the visitors pulled a goal back when a header was tipped onto the bar by Shaun Gibbs, but the rebound was bundled home. This could have produced a testing time for the home side, but they kept their composure and continued to push the visitors back. On the hour Mick Bradshaw saw his shot fly over the bar, Matt Atherton then shot wide after being set up by Sam Shone.

Villa regained their three goal advantage on sixty five minutes when a ball into the box from Danny Nolan was handled, Matt Atherton stepped up giving the keeper no chance with his well hit penalty. Euxton were now well on top.
They went further ahead after seventy minutes when from a free kick on the edge of the area Liam Conway curled in his fourth goal of the game.

Five minutes later Danny Nolan was again unlucky when he saw his shot tipped around the post. On eighty three minutes Kevin Ormerod saw a good shot saved by the keeper. Two minutes later Villa again found the net, a ball in from the left by Matt Atherton released Tom Whittaker who cut inside before beating the keeper with a well placed shot.

The home side continued pressing but were unable to increase their lead further, still at the start of the game the would have settled for this result. Everyone in the side were on top of their game, with Liam Conway deserving special mention as he confirmed himself top scorer for the season, he was just pipped for man of the match by Danny Nolan who gave a tireless display of centre forward play, being involved in a number of the goals, and also being extremely unlucky not to get amongst the goals. This side have continued to improve all season.

Team - Gibbs, Walker, O'Loughlin, Crombie, Winstanley, L.Conway, (Whittaker ) Bradshaw, ( Ormerod ) M.Conway, ( Shone ) Atherton, Dunn, Nolan.

 

Discuss this game in the Villa Room!!