Goldline Trophy Final

The most magnificent six day spell in the history of Euxton Villa culminated on Monday night with victory in The Goldline Trophy Final over previous winners and local rivals Charnock Richard in the glorious setting that is The Reebok Stadium. Many reports and photos have appeared in various local papers, so there is no real need for me to do other than sum up the achievement from a Villa perspective.

I suppose there was always a slight worry that the venue, the sense of occasion and the protracted build-up to the final would get to the lads and that they might freeze on the night. Far from it.  Their magnificent victory in The Shield final the week before had helped mark McDonnell and Roger Leigh remind the lads just how well they can play given a decent surface, and the first half in particular saw some of the most thoughtful passing football of the season so far.

A couple of years ago, Villa would have been somewhat over respectful of their more experienced neighbours, but those days are long gone.  Charnock are still a strong and talented outfit, but the lads know now that they are at least as good, and if anything it was their opponents who, on the night, appeared the more nervous. Villa carried the game to Charnock right from the off, and a series of corners ended with the ball in the back of the net inside ten minutes, when the unfortunate Graeme Keenan glanced one of Damian Stewart’s Exocets past his own keeper. Ten minutes later, a superb passing move saw George Craddock and Tom Whittaker combine to send David Heald sprinting clear of the defence, and his skill and composure ensured Kevin Baldwin had no chance in stopping the big man doubling his side’s advantage,

The second half inevitably saw Charnock redouble their efforts in an attempt to get back in the game, but the Euxton defence were rock solid to a man, and the awesome Ross Baxter made anything that did come his way look routine. Villa should have been out of sight seven minutes into the second half when Tom Whittaker produced an amazing solo run, and only a despairing lunge inside the box halted his progress. A stonewall penalty if ever there was one, but the ref, who was only a few yards away, made a dramatic show of waving it away. Instead, two minutes later down the other end, it was Charnock who were rightly awarded a spot kick when Stuart Bingham grabbed a handful of an opponent who had pushed the ball past him.
Now, two things we supporters discussed before kick-off. 1. If Charnock Richard don’t go down to ten men we’ll be all right. 2. We hope they get a penalty at some point, because a big occasion such as this would not be complete somehow without a Ross Baxter penalty save.
And of course, although Chris Bennett struck it well enough, save it he duly did, to make it eleven saved from fourteen conceded in open play this season, or so some sad Statto told me. 

That might have been the spur that changed the game, we’ll never know, because although Andy Roberts blasted over from close range ten minutes from the end, Villa resisted the temptation to drop ever deeper, and defended resolutely from back to front to close out a magnificent victory. Bookings reached double figures (six for Villa) in a game played without a hint of malice from either side, which says more about the ref’s lack of man management skills than it does the tone of the game. The Man of the Match award went to Lee Chambers who was outstanding as usual, but I’m just glad it wasn’t me who had to choose -  could easily have made a case for just about anybody on the night.  And speaking of difficult decisions, much accolades have quite rightly been heaped on the shoulders of Mark McDonnell and Roger Leigh, but if you see Mark with bloodshot eyes over the next few days, it’s not just from the celebrations (I understand Landlord needed an emergency restocking delivery on Tuesday), but from the sleep deprivation on the run up, knowing that there were not enough shirts to reward everyone who has played a part in the season’s achievements. Well done Sap!  Does Kath know about the ‘no get-out till you’ve won the league’ clause?

A big, big thanks to everybody who came along to support, indeed both teams were well represented in a packed West Stand. Why not come along on a Saturday too, if you’ve not been before. Can’t promise the same quality of playing surface, but the welcome will be just as warm and admission is free!  Eagley at home this Saturday, ko 3.0 pm.

Villa Line-up: Baxter, Dickinson, Davies, L.Chambers, Bolton, Whittaker, Bingham (Woodman 65), Loughlin, Stewart (Atherton 70), Heald (Bromham 77) Craddock SNU Walker, Bibby, Briggs.