The last time these two teams met, a pre season friendly, Euxton got a right old walloping. That was our first game together and the boys have come a long way since then. Albion must have been expecting another easy ride today as they turned up without a keeper. The ref didn’t turn up either so we were left with one of the opposing entourage to ensure that the laws of the game were observed and fair play was to be awarded to both teams.  

It was obvious from the kick off that the boys were up for it today. Euxton were immediately on the attack forcing a series of corners on the right. We nearly went one up in the second minute when a Barney inswinger was knocked just wide of his own post by an Albion defender. Liam then put Jack through down the right who knocked a good ball in the box where there was an almighty scramble but neither Jake nor Mikey could get a boot on it to knock it in. Albion managed an attack of their own and a ball sent in from the right took a wicked deflection and totally against the run of play we were one down. A minute later it would have been two down had it not been for a brilliant save from Matthew who was left one on one with the Albion attacker. Euxton pressed forward with Mikey putting one just wide of the post from the edge of the area and then a minute later Jake received the ball just inside the box, took one touch to compose himself and then drilled it into the bottom left hand corner. 1-1. Despite all the possession and good work from Euxton we were still lacking the finishing touch in front of goal an it was Albion who were to score and go in at half time 2-1 up.

The second half could not have got off to a worse start when in the opening minute we gift wrapped Albion a third. With no one willing to clear the ball their forward just strolled up and knocked it in. The boys could not have responded any better and the next fifteen minutes played some of the best football this season. A Jack run down the right earned a corner and another goalmouth scramble ended with their keeper gathering the ball. Then it was Sammo’s turn to have a go and knocked one just over the bar. Another great run from Jack followed with a defence splitting pass and Nathan was on hand to knock it in. 2-3.  Barney proved how alert we were today and dispossessed Albion straight from the kick off setting up Liam who came close to equalising. It was then all Euxton. Shots from Mikey, Barney, Jack and a Connor header all going close. The ball just would not go in. Then came the sucker punch. A bouncing bomb over the top of left a race for the ball, which Albion won and it was 2-4. The boys just shrugged it off and the kept going. They were rewarded five minutes later when the ball fell to Liam and from over 20 yards out smacked one into the roof of the net. 3-4. There was still 10 minutes to go and the momentum was all with Euxton. Adam had a shot saved by the keeper and there were a couple of driving runs from James, Mikey burst through and Barney crossed. We just could not finish it off but it was great stuff to watch. 

The back line has been immense this season and have held their positions well, much to the disgruntlement of many an opposition. They have worked hard to learn the rules and gain an understanding with one another. Today was no different with Albion being caught offside several times. There was only one way they were going to beat the offside today.

The decision unsettled Euxton who never got back into gear and both sets of supporters were robbed of a truly exciting finish to a great game of football. The game petered out and finished 5-3 to Albion. Their muted cheers at the end tell their own story. A truly awesome performance by all the boys today we could not have asked for anything more of them. Even Pete must have been hoarse at the end of this one.

Well done Albion - they played like they had an extra man out there.