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What a differences a couple of days can
make at this time of year. A pitch that was so sodden most
of the pre season was wiped out, became in the course of a
couple of days almost too hard for comfort. Still, less work
for the man with the fork!
The latest in the series of always
entertaining, sometimes bruising encounters between Villa
and Eagley saw the Euxton side emerge victorious on the end
of a fine display of passing football to which the visitors
could find no effective counter on the evening. With both
captain Paul Loughlin and deputy Daz Davies sidelined
through injury, Stuart Bingham assumed the armband in an
evening that held high expectations for him, in more ways
than one!
Eagley were stunned by a hammer blow from
which they never really recovered, when Villa found the back
of the net with the match less than two minutes old. Craig
Chambers took a quick throw in to David Heald who jinked his
way to the bye line before standing the ball up at the back
post, where Matt Atherton rose unchallenged to head home.
The home side almost doubled their advantage five minutes
later. Damien Stewart, playing in a more advanced role than
usual, latched on to a through ball and let lose a rasping
shot on the half volley, but the keeper managed to deflect
it round the post. Tom Whitaker headed the resultant corner
inches over. The reprieve for the visitors was short lived
however. A Stewart corner from the right found Lee Chambers
soaring majestically at the far post and he made no mistake
from close range.
Eagley then had their best spell of the
game, but more heroics from Ross Baxter ensured that their
period of ascendancy proved fruitless. Even a very strange
penalty award held no fear for the big man, who makes a
speciality of swatting away such minor inconveniencies.
Eagley emerged for the second half
clearly in a more determined, some might say even a more
aggressive mood. Matt Atherton was carried off after fifteen
minutes and George Craddock, having nursed hid injury for
more than an hour, was substituted as a precaution. Not
before leaving his stamp on the match, however. A long
punted clearance from Baxter (or a carefully weighted pass
if you believe his version) found Craddock breaking clear,
and employing the deftest of touches, he lobbed the
advancing keeper to put paid to any hope they might have
held of making a fight of it.
A satisfying evening all round with no
individual stealing the show, marred only by the injury to
Atherton and a couple of other minor tweeks. Craig Chambers
did himself no harm though with another fine performance in
his quest to nail down the right back spot. Don’t envy Mark
McDonnell’s task when they’re all fit!
The league kicks off this Saturday, and
with the champions of the last few seasons having gone up to
the North West Counties, several teams will feel they are in
with a real shout at the title this time, including
Saturday’s visitors Freckleton. Is there any reason why The
Villa should not consider themselves amongst that group?
Saturday’s game might provide some clues – don’t miss it!
Villa: Baxter, C.Chambers, Dickenson,
L.Chambers, Bolton (Crombie 81), Whittaker, Bingham, Heald
(Walker77)Stewart, Craddock (Briggs 67), Atherton (L.Conway
60) |
