Richardson Cup Round One 3 Nov 07 

Villa began, and very quickly ended, their defence of the Richardson Cup, with an ignominious first half display that saw them two down at the turn, though it could so easily have been four or five, and although the second half saw a remarkable reversal in the balance of play, they were unable to turn the new-found momentum into the goals necessary to redress the damage done in the first.

Most of the early sideline and discussion centred around trying to fathom out the starting line-up, and from the look of things the same was true on the pitch also, as far as those in orange were concerned at any rate!  Not altogether surprising then that it was the home side who settled the quicker, and having done so went on to dominate a first half during which they had the Villa defence under sustained pressure, and create numerous chances which could, and probably should, have seen them out of sight by the interval.

Nevertheless, they were only able to convert twice, and the first of those had more than a touch of good fortune about it, with the ball popping about like a pin-ball machine and final ricochet falling kindly for the attack. The second was the result of a rash and comprehensive up-ending in the box, with the spot kick giving Baxter no chance.

Mark McDonnell shuffled the pack early in the second half, sending on Stuart Bingham and Peter Ryder to add a bit of power to the mid-field. The desired effect was achieved almost straight away, with playmakers Tom Whitaker and Phil Woodman having a much more positive say in proceedings, and giving Chris Farrah more to work with than he had enjoyed at any time during the first half. Before the half was ten minutes old, Villa’s man of the match Whittaker capitalised on a combination of simple build up play and somewhat static defending to slam the ball home unopposed, and now it really was ‘game on’. The visitors had the bit between their teeth, and the home side suddenly seemed flummoxed and flustered at Villa’s change in attitude.

Wave after wave bore down on the Haslingden goal, and it looked as though the tie was there for the taking. Ryder blasted over from five yards and Whittaker and Farrah both had efforts blocked. But in pressing on in search of an equaliser, inevitably gaps began to appear at the back, and Baxter produced a spectacular reaction save to keep his side in touch.

Then, with fifteen minutes left on the clock, the newly returned from injury and visibly tiring Lee Chambers was replaced at left back. No sooner had he left the field than the Haslingden right-winger stole in unopposed to kill off Villa’s hopes of a notable fight-back, though there was more than a suspicion of off-side about it.

It is, as is all too often said, a funny old game. Haslingden’s total domination of the first half could easily have gone unrewarded with just a little more luck on Villa’s side, but they deserved to go through over the piece. Villa can now concentrate their efforts on the remaining Cups in which they still have an interest, starting with a mouth-watering tie in The Shield this Saturday away at Fulwood – KO 1.30. check out the Villa website for directions. 

Line-up: Baxter, Kirkpatrick (Ryder 52), Dickenson, Bolton, L.Chambers (Craddock 75), Woodman, Loughlin (Bingham 48), M.Conway, Whittaker, Briggs, Farrah.