Lancashire Shield Final

(Euxton Villa won on Penalties) 

You couldn’t write it!  If you sent the story of Villa’s adventure in The Shield in as a proposed ‘Roy of The Rovers’ script, the editor would probably reject it as too far-fetched and stretching credulity beyond the believable. 

It all began back in the autumn with a trip to play West Didsbury & Chorlton, and although for most of the match Villa looked to have more in their locker than the Manchester side, in the end they were glad to squeeze through 4-3 hanging on. Then came another safari into the unknown with a trip to Royton, and in a rough and bruising affair it required an injury time strike to see Villa emerge with their hopes (and hides) intact.  Old Xavarians came calling in the next round, and although the records show a 2-0 success, it was far from cut and dried and the visitors had two stonewall penalty claims turned down which could have dramatically changed the outcome.  A short trip to Fulwood saw an excellent game unfold, and just when it seemed that nothing could separate the two and that extra time was inevitable, another injury time strike saw the lads through.  The semi at Victory Park saw Villa pitted against league rivals Freckleton, in rampant form at the time. Again a very tight and indeed entertaining game ensued with again little or nothing to choose between the two. Freckleton got their noses in front near the end, but, just when the cause looked beyond the lads, another late strike, deep into stoppage time, took the tie to extra time, and the lads were able to close out the match with a couple of quality goals.

And so to the final.  From the outset it became clear that the two sides were evenly matched, and in a keenly fought first half, Villa probably just edged it on number of chances created, but the more clear-cut fell to Robin Park, who with Ryan Small the most effective player on show, probably should have taken the lead inside twenty minutes with a sweeping move down their left which produced a low whipped ball into the path of their centre forward for what looked like a tap-in, but somehow he miscued and Villa were off the hook. Again on the half hour, they looked to have made the breakthrough, but a last ditch block by Danny Walker kept the scoresheet blank.

The second half saw more of the same, but gradually Villa began to gain the upper hand with first George Craddock with the head and then Tom Whittaker with a chip going close. Shortly after the hour mark Mark McDonnell was forced into his first change when the influential Paul Loughlin was forced to give way to a knee injury. His replacement, Stuart Bingham, missing from the starting line up because of an injury of his own, instantly made his presence felt, taking command of the mid field area, winning every header, and pretty much nullifying the influence of Small. In the reshuffle, David Heald and Tom Whittaker swapped roles, and the change gave the Robins’ centre backs a whole new set of problems they found difficult to get to grips with.  From a corner, Bingham produced a thunderous volley with his first touch that flashed just wide, and five minutes later produced a carbon copy with a similar outcome.  For half an hour it was all Villa and Heald driving at the heart of the defence at every opportunity, was causing havoc. At the end of one such run, he got to the bye-line, looked up and expertly picked out Craddock, but his calculated shot came back off the upright. A minute from time, Heald looked to have won it. Powering into the box, he opted to stay on his feet when clearly fouled as the goal was gaping, but somehow his finish found the wrong side of the post.

Extra time then, and the break had allowed The Robins to regroup, and once more possession was even. Indeed, with both sides showing the effects of their endeavours, play was now end to end. Neither looked as though they fancied the dreaded penalty shoot-out, and both pressed on to try to secure the breakthrough.  Then, two minutes from the end of extra time, Robin Park were awarded a free kick thirty yards out. With the clock running down fast, taker Ben Kay opted for power, and such was the ferocity of the strike, the slightest of deflections off Darren Davies was enough to send it flying into the corner, giving Baxter no chance.

No time left for a come back – or so it seemed. From the restart, Villa went straight down the other end and almost grabbed an immediate response, but their luck was out. But with some supporters heading for the exit, the lads refused to let go. A corner deep into stoppage time saw everybody pile forward, including the imposing presence that is Ross Baxter, and I couldn’t swear McDonnell himself wasn’t in there somewhere.  Damian Stewart applied his usual quality to the delivery, the keeper rose form amidst the crowd to punch well, but his looping clearance fell right into the path of Phil Woodman, who smashed it on the full volley high into the rigging.

And so to penalties. Could the takers on both sides keep their nerve? If so, then the Villa faithful felt that the advantage would be with them, knowing Baxter’s ability and record at saving spot kicks. And so it proved, Baxter saved Wigan’s first, but the ultra reliable Sam Bolton saw his effort ably dealt with, Craddock, Stewart and Michael Bromham all despatched theirs with power and aplomb, and for the Robins, a devastated Ryan Small, their best player on the night, saw his effort back off the post. So then it was down to Baxter, and a second inspired one handed save sent the Villa lads into ecstasy, knowing they had triumphed in the Shield, the biggest and most prestigious competition open to them.

Credit to all the lads for an outstanding display and for refusing to lie down when it looked to have gotten away from them. Credit too, to Mark McDonnell for getting the very difficult decisions right, and to Roger Leigh for the intricate preparation that so handsomely paid off.  And of course to a very capable and understandably devastated Wigan Robin Park who ensured such a fine spectacle for the neutral. 

Villa Line-up: Baxter, Walker, Davies, L.Chambers, Bolton, Woodman, Loughlin (Bingham 66), Heald (Bromham 115), Atherton (Stewart 80), Whittaker, Craddock.