There was an air of expectancy for today’s encounter. Much had been said about the previous two disappointing efforts but with the added incentive of school bragging rights up for grabs, we were all looking forward to a fighting performance against the Warriors.

Matty H was back in defence and Mikey pushed up into midfield as we adopted a 4-4-1-1 line up.  The game started in the usual manner with Euxton having all the possession. A series of throw ins down the right led to a corner and an Euxton effort was put just wide. After 5 mins the Warriors managed to cross the half way line courtesy of a big punt down the middle, but Matty and Kurt combined well to thwart the attack. Barney had a shot just wide followed by a free kick, which went over the bar. Euxton piled on the pressure forcing a corner, which Gilli failed to clear and Barney knocked in the loose ball. 1-0 to Villa 9 mins gone.

Toilet trouble forced Matthew off and he was replaced by Sammo. Villa kept up the pressure with Jake unlucky not to score following a scramble in the penalty area. Another move down the right and Barney smacked one over the keepers head and Villa were 2-0 up. Straight from the kick off a Gillibrand punt down the middle bounced over our defence and their forward ran through to score. 2-1.  This didn’t bother the boys; it was still all Euxton with Adam putting Mikey through who shot just wide. Another good run by Mikey saw another effort go close. It was just a matter of time before Euxton got another and sure enough on 24 mins a Gilli handball on the edge of the area was knocked in by Barney to complete a well-deserved hat trick. Villa were now 3-1 up and looking for more goals. However another famous Gilli punt down the middle led to a corner from which the Warriors managed to pull another back. 3-2. It was still all Euxton in the final 5 mins but on the stroke of half time a Gilli up and under was scrambled in and unbelievably we went into the break 3-3. Villa must have had 20 efforts on goal to Gilli’s 3 and the ball must have been in the Gilli half for 28 of the 30 mins yet we were level. Surely our dominance would be rewarded in the second half.

Euxton started the second half the brighter with most of the ball and it was captain Barney who came closest to scoring after some good work from Jack. On 38 mins the Warriors tricked us and played the ball along the ground earning a corner on the left. The ball was swung in and Matthew made an incredible one handed save only for it to drop at the feet of a Gilli forward who poked it in. 3-4 down. Someone call the cops we were being robbed. This led to a two minute purple patch by Gilli, which involved good saves from Matthew and an almighty goal line scramble which some how we managed to keep the ball out. Euxton then stepped up a gear and on 42 mins a Barney corner was met by a Nathan volley which went just the wrong side of the post. A solo run by Sammo down the right was finished with a shot just wide. Nathan and Brad combined to force a good save from the keeper and then James swung in a cross from which Nathan was unlucky not to head in. Any punt forward from a now beleaguered Gillibrand was comfortably dealt with by Connor, Kurt and Adam. The pressure from Villa was relentless Gilli didn’t know what was hitting them or where they were as a Gilli defender picked up the ball in his own box and with 8mins to go we were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Barney who coolly slotted it home. 4-4.

 Villa just grew stronger and stronger while Gilli started to lose their discipline with every decision now being disputed and the tackles flying in. The perfect answer to this was a Barney cross from the left and a text book Nathan header into the bottom left hand corner which brought the biggest cheer of the day. 5-4 to the Villa. Villa kept on pressing, James struck a shot that the keeper couldn’t hold and Brad knocked home the loose ball only for it to be harshly disallowed. Nathan then hit a 20-yard screamer just wide. There was a nervy final minute as a rare Warrior attack earned a free kick on edge of the area, which skimmed the top of the bar. The ref blew and that was it. A fantastic, much deserved result and a fantastic performance. Every player gave 100% today making it a great game to watch.

Well played boys.

Man of the Match Barney