A healthy crowd at Victory Park bore witness to one of the great nights in Villa’s history, as the lads dug deep into their reserves to edge out the very capable Ashton Athletic from the North West Counties League, and in so doing earn themselves a place in the glamour final of The Goldline Trophy at The Reebok Stadium.  

The last time the Euxton side came to Victory Park, a nervy, sterile and frankly dire match ensued, but it was clear from the first whistle that tonight’s contest was going to be anything but!  Right from the off, Villa went on the offensive, with Tom Whittaker flashing a wicked shot across goal from a measured Stuart Bingham pass. Five minutes later, it was George Craddock’s turn to do likewise from the other side in a mirror image move. 

The first half hour belonged undoubtedly to villa with several chances coming and going, but without the Ashton keeper being seriously troubled. Sam Bolton went closest, heading narrowly over from a Mat Atherton corner. Some in the crowd became edgy, with the old chestnut of having to score while you are on top being heard more than once.  Sure enough, Ashton settled and began to ask their opponents some serious questions of their own. Ross Baxter pulled of a spectacular save low to his left, and in a later move, the ball was blasted over from close range after a series of blocked attempts. So, although Villa enjoyed most of the territorial advantage during an entertaining first half, it was Athletic who had the more telling efforts on goal.  

A more end to end contest unfolded in the second half. Ashton came close to drawing first blood with a shot which narrowly flew past from four yards, whilst down the other end, Whittaker combined with Phil Woodman to produce a fine diving save at feet. Minutes later, another Atherton corner found Whittaker in the clear, but his blast from the corner of the box flew inches over.  

With the game entering the last quarter, Ashton looked to be finishing the stronger, with Villa begining to show signs of the night’s endeavours starting to take their toll. Baxter produced a miraculous double save to turn the ball round the post, and with five minutes of normal time left, a thunderbolt from thirty yards nearly uprooted post and bar, and although the rebound was neatly tucked away, the final strike was from an off-side position. 

And so to extra time. With neither side looking like they were content to leave their fate to the dreaded penalty shoot-out, play swung to and fro, with Villa seemingly having found an untapped source of energy, or was it just that their opponents were now as tired as they?  Clearly, whoever was able to get their noses in front was going to give themselves a massive advantage. Right at the end of the first period of extra time, Villa were awarded a free kick forty yards from goal. Stuart Bingham delivered a vicious Exocet, which neither keeper nor defender could deal with sufficiently, and Sam Bolton popped up to slide the ball home from close range. 

Needless to say, Ashton threw everything at their opponents in the second period, and again hit woodwork, this time with a blasted shot from close range when it looked like a calm side foot would surely have given Baxter no chance. Inevitably, space began to open up behind, as Athletic pushed forward, which Craddock was able to exploit when a through ball saw him away and clear, but a desperate flail from behind sent him sprawling thirty yards from goal. The perpetrator was half way down the tunnel before the ref could get his red card out of his pocket.  From the resultant free kick, up stepped Damian Stewart, and with as sweetly struck a shot as you will see at any level, fired his side into what would prove to be an unassailable position.

A memorable occasion then and one in which all fourteen players gave everything for the cause. Success was built on a tremendous display of defending, not only from keeper and back four who were outstanding, but defending from every department, with shots blocked, passes intercepted and crosses cut off at source. Mark McDonnell deserves much credit for his team plan, and for getting the very difficult decisions re selection just right. Now comes the opportunity of a lifetime to play a competitive Cup Final at Premier League ground, and against our local rivals Charnock Richard to boot! A great advert for amateur football in this area and one not to be missed.

Villa Line-Up: Baxter, Walker, Dickenson, Bolton, Bromham, Woodman (Dunn 86), Bingham, Heald (M.Conway 97), Atherton (Stewart 105), Whittaker, Craddock.