Result - 23/09/06

Thornton Cleveleys 0 Euxton Villa 0

This was very much a game of two halves. The home side had the first half advantage playing with a strong wind at their backs.

Thornton's tactic was to put high balls over the Villa back four, which in the early stages of the game caused the Villa defence problems.

With eight minutes played Thornton won a corner, the ball in was hit just wide of the Villa goal, the visitors were struggling with the windy conditions which made it difficult for them to put their normal passing game together. On sixteen minutes they had a lucky escape when following a through ball Thornton hit the crossbar, the ball came back into play, and the home side looked certain to score, but Justin Johnson pulled off a point blank save to keep Villa level.

It was twenty minutes before Villa had an attempt on goal, when Ian Curwin saw his shot saved by the keeper. Villa were now starting to adapt to the conditions and come more into the game, there was very little controlled football being played by either side, but at least Villa had weathered the early storm. In fairness there were very few attempts on goal from both teams for the remainder of the half. On 30 minutes Rick Wood saw his low shot saved at the foot of the post, five minutes later Phil Woodman headed over following a corner. By this time Villa were just happy to get to the break with a clean sheet, knowing the would have the advantage of the wind in the second half.

At the start of the second half the wind had dropped allowing both sides to get the ball on the ground, this immediately allowed Villa to start pressing back the home side with some good passing football. With a minute played Rick Wood tried his luck from outside the box, but the effort was just too high. Villa did have the ball in the net after 51 minutes, but Liam Conway was correctly ruled offside. The game had now swung very much in Villa's favour, on 54 minutes Danny Walker broke down the left, he picked out Ian Curwin whose shot was headed clear by a Thornton defender. Two minutes later Phil Woodman ran onto a through ball, his shot was saved, and Liam Conway following up saw his effort turned over the bar.

Thornton had very few second half chances, but on 58 minutes they broke quickly following a Villa corner, Rhys Crombie had to be alert to head a dangerous ball clear. Villa went back on the attack and had a good claim for a penalty as Tom Whittaker was brought down, but the referee waved play on.

With an hour played Mark Swift whipped in a good ball in from the left forcing the Thornton keeper to save Liam Conway's header. Villa continued to press and on 66 minutes they were awarded a free kick. Phil woodman hit a powerful drive, but again the keeper saved the kick.

In such a tight game one goal was probably going to be enough, and with their second half dominance Villa looked the most likely to score.

Unfortunately the breakthrough would not come, they continued to press and on seventy minutes Ian Curwin turned well in the box to create an opening but his shot was saved, Villa nearly won it on 85 minutes when Tom Whittaker beat the offside trap, but the Thornton defence managed to scramble the ball away. In the end Villa had to settle for a point and will feel unlucky after all their second half pressure.

Team - Johnson, Wood, Crombie, O'Loughlin, Walker, L.Conway, (Winstanley ) Woodman, Bradshaw, ( Broadbent ) Whittaker, Swift, ( Shone ) Curwin.