24/02/07

HT ( 1 ) ( 1 )  Nolan, C.Chambers ( Pen. ) Atherton, Shone ( Pen. )

This was Villa's best performance of the season against a very strong Freckleton side who gave the Euxton defence a hard time before being overrun by Villa's lively attack.

Villa started well, having to compete for every ball from the first minute.
With five minutes played Villa took the lead, the visitors won a corner, Kevin Ormerod was unlucky to see his header saved. From the resulting corner Danny Nolan was first to the ball, this time his header beat the keeper to put his side ahead. Euxton were having the best of the opening exchanges, on eleven minutes Danny Nolan was involved again this time cutting in from the right before shooting across the face of goal.

As the half progressed Freckleton came more into the game putting Villa under increased pressure, they came close to equalising after 25 minutes as Shaun Gibbs had to save a low shot. Villa still had chances , with 35 minutes played John Winstanley broke down the left, before delivering a low ball across the face of goal. Two minutes later it was Freckleton who came close with a header over the bar. The home side intensified the pressure further and on 39 minutes another high ball into the box was headed over to safety by Rhys Crombie. From the corner kick Freckleton drew level, as for once the Villa defence was unable to clear and the ball was headed home. The home side continued to press and on 43 minutes from another high ball into the box, Shaun Gibbs was forced to tip a header onto the crossbar. Villa then had a chance a minute before the break , a free kick on the right was driven in by Craig Chambers, and headed just over by Matthew Atherton.

The visitors expected the home side to maintain the pressure from the start of the second half, but playing down the slope Euxton never allowed the home side to build any momentum, it was Villa who started to create the better chances. Three minutes after the re-start Villa thought they had regained the lead, Danny Nolan cut in from the right before beating two defenders and hitting the inside of the post, only for the ball to come back into play.
Two minutes later he did have the ball in the net, a Villa break down the right and a perfect cross into the box was headed home by Danny Nolan, only for the referee to disallow the goal for hand-ball much to the dismay of the player, and the surprise of the home side, as in fairness none of them had disputed the goal.

These efforts lifted Villa, on 53 minutes they were awarded a free-kick, only for Matthew Atherton to see his kick tipped over the bar. From the corner Villa Kevin Ormerod saw his header saved on the line. The home side were now struggling to contain the Villa attack, after 68 minutes Elliot Dunn headed over the bar with his first touch. Two minutes later a Villa free-kick was turned away for a corner by the Freckleton keeper. From the corner kick Craig Chambers headed into the side netting.

For the last ten minutes Villa increased the pressure feeling now that the game was there to be won, Elliot Dunn again came close, as his shot was tipped around the post by the keeper. Three minutes later Villa's pressure paid off as Sam Shone was fouled in the box, Craig Chambers stepped up and made no mistake from the spot. Villa were now rampant and scored again two minutes later when good work down the right by John Salisbury saw his dangerous ball into the box picked up by Matthew Atherton who was able to turn and score with a low drive. Villa were not finished and in injury time a ball into the box was headed onto the post by Matthew Atherton, Sam Shone following up saw his effort tipped onto the crossbar, Freckleton then conceded the second penalty of the game as they tried to clear the danger.
This time it was Sam Shone who made no mistake from the spot. The whole team played well , in the first half the defence kept them in the game, and in the second half the forwards kept the home defence under constant pressure, man of the match was Kevin Ormerod who was very composed throughout the game.

Team - Gibbs, C.Chambers, Ormerod, Crombie, Winstanley, L.Conway,(
Salisbury ) Bradshaw, ( E.Dunn ) O'Loughlin, ( M.Conway ) Atherton. Shone, Nolan.

 

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