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A game packed with goalmouth incidents eventually saw Villa
take the three points following an impressive second half
display.
The match started at a furious pace, and Villa could have
scored three times in the first ten minutes. With less than
a minute played Michael Thompson rattled the Thornton
crossbar with a stunning drive from the edge of the area. On
five minutes Dave Mason beat the offside trap only for the
keeper to somehow turn his shot over the bar, from the
resulting corner Craig Chambers headed past the post. The
home sides first attempt on goal came on nine minutes when a
through ball nearly caught out the Villa defence, but Keeper
Lance Myerscough was quickly off his line to clear the
danger.
Villa were still creating chances, good work by Dylan
Southern set up Michael Thompson, but his low shot was
saved. Thornton were starting to get their game flowing with
some neat passing football, this paid dividends after
thirteen minutes when a ball into the Villa box was not
cleared, keeper Lance Myerscough saved the first shot, but
was unable to prevent the follow up being turned in. At this
point the home side were having more of the possession, but
Villa the better chances.
With fifteen minutes played Rhys Crombie and Michael
Thompson combined well down the left, eventually hitting a
low ball into the box from which Dave Mason saw his shot fly
just wide. Chances were coming at regular intervals for
Villa , Dylan Southern put a shot over the bar, then James
O'Loughlin headed over from a Mick Bradshaw cross. Thornton
were still dangerous and themselves had a number of efforts
on the Villa goal. They were awarded a free kick on the edge
of the Villa area, Lance Myerscough did well to turn the
well hit shot around the post. On the stroke of half time
Villa drew level, they were awarded a free kick just inside
the Thornton half, this was taken quickly, catching out the
home defence, Dave Mason who had troubled the Thornton back
four throughout the half reacted quickest to lob the keeper.
Overall the first half had been very even, but from the
restart Villa upped their game to control the second period.
Dave Mason had the ball in the net again within a minute of
play, but the effort was ruled offside. Liam Conway broke
down the left, the clearance from his cross fell to Mick
Bradshaw, who forced the keeper to save with his feet. While
Villa now had the bulk of the play they could not afford to
be complacent as Thornton hit the bar twice in the space of
five minutes.
It only seemed a matter of time before Villa's supremacy
would be rewarded with a goal, but things turned on 74
minutes when Thornton regained the lead. All credit to the
visitors, they did not let their heads drop, but instead
took the game to the home side. With ten minutes remaining
Liam Conway and Dave Mason worked down the right before
crossing for Sean Parkin to head wide.
On eighty six minutes Villa deservedly drew level, a ball in
from the right released Dave Mason who beat the keeper with
a low shot into the bottom corner. This rocked the home side
who must have thought they had taken the points, Villa were
not done, and pushed on for a winner, this came with a
minute of normal time remaining, a fine ball from Sean
Parkin set free Liam Conway who cut in from the right before
beating the keeper with a low shot to wrap up the game. It
was no more than Villa's second half display warranted, in
the match there were also impressive debut's for Danny
Brown, Lance Myerscough, and Andy Bradshaw.
Team - Myerscough, C.Chambers,( Currie ) Brown, O'Loughlin,
Crombie,
M.Bradshaw, ( A.Bradshaw ) Southern, Parkin, L.Conway,
Thompson, ( Winstanley ) Mason.
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