Euxton Villa (3)  3 Eagley (4)  5

L. Conway 2

Martin

Villa got off to the worst possible start in this game, a goal down inside a minute, and two down inside four minutes, it is to their credit that they still made a game of it, but again individual errors were punished by a very determined side.

From the kick-off Eagley attacked down the wing, an early ball into the box was not dealt with ,and a header put the visitors into the lead. This rocked Euxton and before they had time to compose themselves they were caught again as a ball down the right was not cut out leaving the right winger with a clear run on goal, from which he put away a low shot. A minute later Villa were back in the match as from the restart Liam Conway chased a high ball into the box lobbing over the keeper before following up to put the ball into the net. The game was now more even as Villa tried to get on top. With sixteen minutes played Adrian Briggs laid off a good ball to Brad Dowling, but his shot flew over the angle of post and bar. Two minutes later the home side were caught again as failure to clear a ball resulted in a copy of the second goal for 3-1.

Villa again tried to get back into the match, putting pressure on Eagley who themselves were still working hard to maintain their advantage, on twenty eight minutes Adrian Briggs turned well in the box, only to see his effort strike the outside of the post. The game looked wrapped up two minutes later as Eagley again were given too much free space, and a header set free the right winger whose shot made it 4-1. Once again Villa responded as a ball into the box was chased by Anton Martin and sheer determination saw him hold off a defender before scoring with a low shot. It was again fairly even as Villa looked to reduce the gap further and Eagley looked to secure the points. It was Villa who were eventually successful a minute before half-time when a through ball allowed Liam Conway to round the keeper for his second goal of the game. So half time arrived with Villa still in the contest but also with the visitors still looking a well organised dangerous side.

From the restart Villa pressed for an equaliser to put more pressure on Eagley. On 51 minutes Villa were awarded a free kick to the right of the Visitors box. Mark Swift took the kick forcing the keeper to tip the ball around the post for a corner. Villa continued to press as the visitors had to work to hold onto their lead. On the hour Adrian Briggs run into the box saw his shot fly past the post. As so often happens in games like this, the team pressing gets caught on the break, and Villa did on 63 minutes as an early ball set the Eagley winger free and he restored the visitors two goal advantage. Villa came back again and were unlucky two minutes later as Mark Swift broke down the left before unleashing a fierce drive which came back from the underside of the crossbar. Two minutes later he played through Liam Conway but his effort was wide.

Villa went to three at the back as they tried to again pull a goal back, the visitors were now happy to defend their two goal cushion and see out time.

Villa still had chances, on seventy minutes Anton Martin was unlucky to see his strong drive beaten away. With five minutes left Villa nearly got caught out again as Adam Stone pulled off a fine save to tip the ball onto the post. The home side finished the game strongly as in the last few minutes Liam Conway saw a fine effort hit the post, and Sam Shone was unlucky to see a well hit shot blocked on the line. In fairness Villa were always chasing the game and all credit to Eagley who took their chances well. Villa will play worse than this and win matches but they must reflect on how much they were the architects of their own downfall.

Team - Stone, Winstanley, O'Loughlin, Crombie, Dowling,( Broadbent ) L.Conway, Bradshaw, ( McGladrigan )Curwen, ( Shone ) Swift, Briggs, Martin.