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Bolton
Whittaker

Villa staged a stunning second half revival to come from a goal down to take the points in this tense top of the table clash.

Both teams started the game in a cautious manner, so the early play was very tight. The first chance fell to Craig Chambers after five minutes when he won a tackle on the right before surging forward and shooting over the bar.
Euxton came close again three minutes later, a long throw from Danny Brown was cleared for a corner. From Matt Atherton's kick, James O,Loughlin headed just past the post.

It was now the visitors turn to put the home defence under pressure with a quick break into the Villa box forcing Shaun Gibbs to bravely save at a forwards feet. They came close again two minutes later when a cross from the right was headed just wide of the Villa post. Villa came back strongly, a free kick released Matt Atherton on the left, he cut into the box before shooting into the side netting.

At this point the game was very close, Shaun Gibbs was again in action having to save a powerful shot from the right. The home sides best chance of the half came after thirty-five minutes when they were awarded a free kick on the right, Matt Atherton hit a dangerous ball in which was met by Sam Bolton only for the keeper to turn his header around the post. Poulton probably just edged the first half as they had the two best chances to score, but there was very little to choose between the teams.

Within a minute of the restart the visitors took the lead, a quick break down the right saw a low ball drilled into the Villa box, this was met by the Poulton left winger whose first time shot found the net via the underside of the crossbar. This goal lifted the visitors and two minutes later they came close again with a low shot which Shaun Gibbs saved.

As they have done many times this season the home side retained their composure and started to push the visitors back forcing a number of free kicks and corners as Poulton tried to hold onto their one goal advantage.
The game turned after sixty three minutes. A Villa break saw Sam Shone through on goal only to be brought down on the left hand edge of the Poulton area. Sam Bolton took the kick, bending the ball around the wall and into the bottom corner.

This goal clearly un-nerved the visitors as two minutes later a poor clearance by their keeper fell to Tom Whittaker, who was just wide with a lob. Villa were now very much in the ascendancy and they increased the pressure further on the visitors. With twenty minutes remaining Elliot Dunn was fouled on the right hand edge of the box. Sam Bolton again took the kick, this time unleashing a fierce drive which the Poulton keeper could only parry, the ball spun into the air and Tom Whittaker reacted fastest to head the ball into the net.

Poulton threw on their subs. And went to four up front, but they were now a dejected side and while they had plenty of possession they didn't seriously trouble the Villa defence for the remainder of the game. A hard fought contest which Villa just about deserved to win given their rousing second half performance.

Team - Gibbs, C.Chambers, O,Loughlin, Brown,( Bolton ) Crombie, Whittaker, Kirkpatrick, M.Conway, Atherton, Dunn, ( Bradshaw ) Shone, ( Dawson )