Ryder
L.Conway
 

 
This was very much a game of two halves with Villa struggling at first to cope with the lively visitors, but a tactical change at half time by manager Mark McHugh saw a much improved second half performance resulting in the end with a deserved win.

Springfield attacked from the start, they nearly caught Villa cold in the first minute when following an attack down the right a long range effort hit the Villa post, James O'Loughlin reacted first to clear the danger. All the early pressure came from the visitors as Villa struggled to cope, they did however start to gradually get into the game, after ten minutes Matt Conway broke from midfield and released Liam Conway, his low shot flashed across the face of goal.

The Visitors were still causing Villa problems and on seventeen minutes came close again, shooting just wide of the Villa post. Euxton slowly started to get more into the game , with twenty minutes played a good through ball from Guy Clarkson created a chance for Liam Conway, but again his effort was just wide. For the mid period of the half the game was more even, without either side creating a clear-cut opportunity. On the stroke of half time Mick Bradshaw nearly broke the deadlock with a lob that was just too high. At the break there was very little to choose between the teams.

If the visitors edged the first half Villa controlled the second period.
From the restart it was a much more determined approach from the home side, with three minutes played a free kick on the right by Sam Shone found Pete Ryder, his shot was cleared for a corner. Villa were now bossing the midfield and went ahead on fifty minutes when a Sean Parkin shot was too strong for the keeper to hold, Pete Ryder following up took the ball around the keeper to put Villa in front.

At this point in the game the intricacy of some of Villa midfield play was a joy to watch, restricting Springfield's to the odd breakaway. On fifty three minutes keeper Stewart Yates had to be alert to turn a low shot around the post. Villa still had the upper hand and came close to a second five minutes later. Sam Shone forced a corner on the left, from the kick Pete Ryder headed just over the bar.

With sixty five minutes played, and against the run of play, the visitors drew level. A break down the right caught out the home defence, allowing a shot to find the Villa net. All credit to the home side, they continued to play controlled football and were rewarded after seventy five minutes. A ball on the left found Michael Thompson, his exquisite layoff released Liam Conway who found the net between the keeper and the near post.

For the rest of the game Villa were on top and could have had further goals as Liam Conway twice beat the offside trap only to see his first effort saved by the keeper, and his second fly past the foot of the post. In the end a good win against very determined opposition, with Villa's second half display seeing them home.

Team - Yates, Wood, O'Loughlin, Crombie, Winstanley, Southern,( Parkin ) Bradshaw, M.Conway, Clarkson,( Ryder )L.Conway, Shone,( Thompson )