( 3 ) ( 2 )
C.Chambers 3
Dunn
Shone

Following brother Lee's goal scoring exploits of last week it was Craig's turn this week to repeat the feat with a hat trick of his own, as Villa eventually took control of a hard fought game to secure the three points.

Villa started the match in a positive frame of mind, on two minutes a cross from the left by John Winstanley produced efforts from both Pete Ryder and Elliot Dunn, from the resulting corner Pete Ryder headed wide. The home side continued to pressure the visitors defence. On twelve minutes a Lee Chambers free kick was headed on by Pete Ryder to Craig Chambers whose shot was just wide. Within a minute Euxton were in front following superb build up play involving Lee Chambers, James O'Loughlin, Craig Chambers and Pete Ryder, with James O'Loughlin's final ball into the box being turned in by Elliot Dunn.

The home side's joy was short-lived however as within a minute Freckleton equalised, a speculative long ball into the Villa box created a misunderstanding allowing the visitors to capitalise and draw level. All credit to the home side who immediately went back onto the attack. They were rewarded after twenty one minutes, a ball down the right released Craig Chambers who calmly beat the keeper with a low shot inside the near post.

This goal settled the home side as they continued to pressurise the Freckleton defence, they forced a number of corners and came close when John Winstanley drifted a ball in from the left were an incoming James O'Loughlin was only inches away from turning the ball in. Three minutes later Villa looked to have the game wrapped up when a ball into the box was turned over the line by Sam Shone. Once again Freckleton responded and two minutes after the Villa goal the home defence were caught out by a ball down the left resulting in a low shot into the bottom corner.

After the first half goal feast it was unlikely to follow the same pattern in the second half, and so it proved. Villa tightened up at the back and gradually took control as they looked to make the game safe. Five minutes after the restart both Sam Shone and Mick Bradshaw saw shots fly just wide of the target. It was now controlled pressure which was eventually rewarded on sixty five minutes. Sam Shone was wide on the left, he caught out the Freckleton defence by whipping in an early ball from an almost impossible angle. Craig Chambers reacted faster than anyone else and scored with a diving header into the roof of the net.

Euxton were now able to relax and continue to create openings. With fifteen minutes remaining Guy Clarkson saw his fierce drive blocked by the keeper.
Villa then forced three corners in succession, the third of these was a short ball to Danny Brown, his low ball into the box was flicked over the bar by Sean Parkin. With ten minutes remaining Villa looked to have scored a fifth when a ball in from the left found Rick Wood, but the keeper somehow managed to keep out his close range effort.

The fifth goal did come in the last minute when Villa were awarded a penalty for shirt pulling, Craig Chambers duly completed his hat trick to see his side comfortably home. In the end Villa deserved the three points with another outstanding team performance.

Team - Gibbs, C.Chambers, Crombie, Brown, L.Chambers, Winstanley, ( Clarkson ) O'Loughlin, Bradshaw, Dunn, Shone ( Wood ) Ryder, ( Parkin )