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Atherton

A dour struggle against a determined defence who held out for eighty minutes before Villa eventually broke the deadlock to secure the three points.

Villa started brightly and immediately went on the attack, an early break down the left by Sam Shone resulted in his shot being cleared for a corner.
Five minutes later he was through again but the shot was blocked. The home side continued to press and a minute later great interplay on the left from Rhys Crombie, Sam Shone, and Matt Atherton created an opening but again the effort was cleared.

It was pretty much one way traffic as Euxton tried to break the deadlock. On fifteen minutes they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, but unfortunately Matt Atherton's effort flew over the bar. Five minutes later a ball over the top of the Turton defence released Ian Kirkpatrick, but his shot was cleared for a corner. This pattern of play continued for the remainder of the half, with the visitors testing the Villa defence with the odd breakaway.

The best chance of the half came with five minutes remaining, a cross into the Turton box was headed back across goal to Matt Atherton who almost turned the ball in. A minute later Sam Shone turned well in the box only to see his shot saved. The visitors obviously finished the half the happier of the two teams, as Villa had endured a frustrating forty five minutes.

Euxton upped the tempo from the restart as the play was condensed into the visitors half. A free kick on the right of the Turton box was met by Lee Chambers, but his header was over the bar. A good break down the left by Tom Whittaker freed Matt Atherton again his shot was blocked. Ten minutes later Tom Whittaker received the ball on the edge of the area, but his attempt on goal flew just wide.

Pressure from the home side intensified as the game wore on, and at times the visitors defence was just hanging on. With ten minutes remaining Villa finally breached the Turton defence. A free kick taken from the right was headed back across goal to Matt Atherton who calmly side footed the ball home. It was no more than the home side deserved, but all credit to Turton who defended stoutly throughout the game.

Not a classic, but Villa persevered and eventually got their reward, as at this stage of the season results are everything.

Team - Gibbs, C.Chambers, O'Loughlin, L.Chambers, Crombie, Whittaker, Bradshaw, ( Bromham ) M.Conway, Atherton, Kirkpatrick, ( Thompson ) Shone, ( Dickinson )