A crisp, sharp spring afternoon and a very well presented playing surface failed to inspire either side into producing a contest for the spectator to savour, but at a venue where Villa have had little joy in the past, it was they who did enough to secure all three points at the end of a fairly forgettable afternoon.  A very well worked set piece, a somewhat fortuitous ‘fluke’ (Sorry Damo) and yet another outstanding penalty save were enough to see the visitors through, even though a second half defensive lapse heralded a nervous last half hour.

Nothing much of note happened for the first twenty minutes or so, during which, despite the aforementioned sound pitch, neither side looked to have the confidence to get the ball down and play it on the ground.  Almost inevitably the breakthrough came form a dead ball situation. Villa were awarded a free kick midway inside their opponents half. Stuart Bingham delivered a quality ball to the far post from where Ross Dickenson, ever dangerous in these forays, nodded it back across goal to pick out Daz Davies arriving right on cue to volley high into the rigging without breaking stride.

 Little change to the pattern of play ensued, with neither side getting fully to grips with the lively pace of the pitch.  Less than ten minutes after taking the lead, Villa handed their opponents a lifeline. Michael Bromham found himself on the wrong side of his opponent, and in an effort to correct the error, upended his man in the corner of the box. The resultant spot kick was struck right into the bottom corner, giving the keeper no chance – or at least it would have given most keepers no chance, but penalty saving is mere routine for Ross Baxter, and of course he got his massive frame down to turn it away, we never had any doubt that it would be otherwise!

The second half continued in much the same vein, with real penetration lacking at both ends. Then suddenly, ten minutes in, a loose ball fell to Damian Stewart, twenty five yards out the left. Instinctively he swung to shoot, but misconnected and the ball trundled along the ground, seemingly going harmlessly past the far post, but to everyone’s amazement, most of all the Eagly keeper, it somehow crept inside the post and Villa found themselves two up in the most unlikely of circumstances.

Just as well as it turned out, as less than five minutes later, collective indecision in defence allowed Eagley back into it when there seemed no real danger.  And having failed to retain a two goal lead the previous week, suddenly there was more urgency in evidence.

But although the home side could sense that there might be something in it for them, in truth they had only the one more meaningful effort to show for their efforts, a very well struck volley that Baxter saw late, but nevertheless was equal to, even catching it for the benefit of the cameras!  At the other end, Bingham and Matt Atherton both saw fair efforts flash just wide, and the visitors should have had a penalty when David Heald was blatantly pushed in the back when about to head goalwards.

Not one that will live long in the memory banks, but great to see nearly everyone back fully fighting fit, and a good confidence booster for Villa as the approach Thursday night’s Lancashire Shield semi-final against Freckleton.  7.30 kick off at Chorley’s Victory Park, now that will be one not to miss!

Villa line-up: Baxter, Davies (Bolton 71), L.Chambers, Dickenson, Bromham (Walker 45), Whittaker (Atherton 70), Loughlin, Bingham, Stewart Heald Craddock