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Rain set in just as
the teams kicked off, and a pitch already heavy quickly
turned into a mud-bath in places and it is to the credit of
both that they were able to produce a half decent display
under the trying circumstances. Villa enjoyed the bulk of
the play, though Ross Baxter was slightly the busier of the
keepers during the first half. Goals either side of the
interval from the back to his best George Craddock however,
effectively killed off the visitors’ hopes, and Mark
McDonnell was able to shuffle things round to rest some, and
have another look at other options.
Indeed, injuries and other absentees
encouraged the manager to tinker with the formation, but in
truth given the conditions and the youthful make up of the
bottom of the league opposition, conclusions were difficult
to draw. In fact, the more telling shots were at Baxter’s
goal in the first half, and when villa did eventually
achieve the breakthrough, both openers were from dead ball
situations.
With half time fast approaching, Darren
Davies floated a free kick into the box, where a mistimed
attempt at a headed clearance saw the ball land at the feet
of George Craddock, and he was not about to spurn such a
gifted opportunity.
Barely a few minutes after the restart,
the game was effectively won, when Craddock rose higher than
anyone else to nod in a well delivered corner from Damian
Stewart. Villa went on to pretty much control the rest of
the match, even having the time to almost produce a
collector’s item in the shape of a goal from midfield dynamo
Paul Loughlin. Picking up the ball just outside the box
from a Martin Whewell throw-in, Loughlin took two touches
before swivelling ‘Hasselbaink style’ and firing a rocket
low inside the far post. Unfortunately for Loughlin and the
record books, the keeper got down well to parry, but Tom
Whittaker reacted quickest and slotted home the rebound.
Probably more questions than answers for
Mark McDonnell then, in his quest to determine starting
line-ups for forthcoming big matches. Questions including,
‘if Paul plays as long as Aidy or Roger will he eventually
net one?’ and ‘ Can you really select someone who plays in
ballet tights?’ Two big local Derbies back to back next,
beginning with Coppull at home this Saturday, if we can ever
stitch the pitch back together that is!
Villa Line-up: Baxter, Bolton, Davies,
L.Chambers, Woodman, Loughlin, Bingham, Atherton, Farrer
(Whewell), Craddock (Briggs) Stewart (Whittaker)
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