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Yes it was a goalless
draw, but dull and boring it certainly wasn’t, you could
travel a long way before seeing a more watchable scoreless
affair. Whilst not exactly the proverbial ‘game of two
halves’, Villa had much more of the play during the first
period and always looked the more likely to break the
stalemate, however Charnock came on strong in the second and
could easily have sneaked it.
With Mark McDonnell still missing several through injury and
holiday, he nevertheless fielded a back four with a more
familiar look to it, with Stuart Bingham advanced to his
more comfortable, and indeed more effective role in
midfield. Up front George Craddock worked his socks off and
continues to impress, and the instantaneous understanding he
and new signing Chris Farrar struck up bodes well for the
future. Indeed Farrar looks as though he could prove the
missing piece in the jigsaw, with his strength and ability
to hold the ball up allowing others to join in.
David Heald’s season may shortly endure an unplanned
intermission, but in this game he chose to forego his usual
running dialog with the officials, (well, for the most part
anyway), and concentrate instead on what he’s good at,
breaking powerfully from just off the front and causing
havoc amongst the opposition back line. Mid way through the
first half, he looked to have capitalised on Villa’s
ascendancy at the time by slamming the ball into the net
from close range on the end of just such a burst, but the
referee saw something that caused him to rule out the
strike, though the home side looked as surprised at the
decision as did the visitors! And although Charnock finished
the stronger of the two teams, Euxton could have, probably
should have nicked it near the end, when substitute Liam
Conway drew the keeper and slid the ball in the path of
Heald’s run, but having run himself into the ground, he was
unable to quite get the purchase necessary and his side
footer screwed wide with the goal gaping.
A much better performance from The Villa than in their last
couple of outings then, and their ongoing duel with their
local rivals continues to provide an unmissable spectacle.
Since our last visit, Charnock Richard’s ground development
programme has progressed exponentially, and they are to be
congratulated on the quality of their new pitch and
surrounds, with no doubt more improvements to follow.
Villa Line-up:
Baxter, C.Chambers, Dickenson, Bolton, Bonham, Heald,
Loughlin, Bingham, Atherton (L.Conway 79) Craddock, Farrar
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