Barnoldswick came calling on a bright but unseasonably chilly April evening, and left no doubt wondering how a match during which they held the upper hand for a long period, in the end got away from them. Villa started well, then receded into a lacklustre shell, before a disputed penalty gave the visitors the lead, and awoke a pride, which for the last twenty minutes or so, saw them turn things around with some sparkling football, and yet another late, late goal.   

Euxton attacked from the off, and had the lead inside three minutes when in-form Aidy Briggs worked an opening for George Craddock, and although his well struck shot was well parried, Matt Atherton, alert to the possibilities, ghosted in to neatly side-foot home the rebound.  In similar mode to their last outing, the very early success seemed to trigger a ‘job done’ kind of mentality, and whilst the Villa lads engaged cruise control, Barnoldswick seized the chance to grab the initiative, and for the next hour, it was they who carried the game to their opponents, winning a series of corners and creating several chances. Both wingers were getting in behind the defence with regular and consummate ease, and deservedly the equaliser came when Chapman netted from close range on the end of one such penetrating run. Ross Baxter had to pull off a splendid fingertip push over to prevent Town taking a lead in at half time.  

The second half began with the visitors still looking the more eager, and reward came when Lee Chambers, despite his protestations, was adjudged to have illegally brought down an opponent inside the box. Smith’s well-struck spot kick for once found Baxter unable to do much about it.

The indignity acted like a collective whiff of smelling salts. Darren Davies’ influence from right back had been having an increasing effect throughout the second half, and within a minute he helped get his side back on terms with a well weighted pass for Atherton, who was able to latch on and deliver a pin-point cross which found Craddock leaping like a salmon to deliver an unstoppable header into the bottom corner.  Suddenly the home side looked like the team they surely are, and five minutes before the end, Craddock was denied a golden opportunity when the referee’s whistle stopped him in his tracks when away and clear. ‘Use of the arm’ said the ref. ‘Hit me shoulder’ said George and nearly everyone else in the ground, but despite his ‘impossible’ angle, those with the best view thought the ref probably right!   But Villa had the momentum now, though it was deep into stoppage time before they found the way through and broke the visitors’ hearts. Sam Bolton got in on the end of a fine move and created space for Craddock, who in turn fed Atherton who ‘carried’ the ball into the box and finished coolly past a frustrated keeper. 

Very disappointing for Town who certainly deserved something out of the game. Villa at least showed what they are capable of with an attractive display of passing football, but only for the last twenty minutes.  Darren Davies was the driving force raiding down the right, Briggs continues to roll back the years, and Craddock and Atherton both worked hard throughout. David Heald is a handful wherever he plays, but surely he is at his most effective further forward!

Villa Line-up: Baxter, Davies, Dickinson (L.Chambers 48), Bolton Bromham, Whittaker (Bingham 73), Heald, M.Conway (Stewart 55), Atherton, Craddock, Briggs