It was freezing!! Southlands at it’s most inhospitable. The prediction from Honest John was 7-1.
The boys warmed up and the thought of the away tie entered their heads, they owed Astley and Astley owed them 3 points.

1st Half
It was a tough start to the game with Astley throwing 5 or 6 players behind the ball in every area of the pitch and if nothing else they would show what determination looks like.
Early pressure from them resulted in a fantastic save by Ryan M. The ebb & flo took the spectators breaths away. Villa won a corner on 9 mins, and sustained the pressure until a brilliant shot from Greg opened the scoring on 11mins.1-0
Smithy slid one past the post on 12mins and then battle resumed and the next goal went to Astley with a well taken long shot on 17mins. 1-1. Some good rallying by Jamie G & Tom M got the heads up and the boys went for it, Greg stepped up to score the second on 21mins.2-1.
Tom G & Alex held firm and Jamie A & Sam never gave the wingers a second to settle, when they didn’t win the ball they stifled the play. This allowed time for Tom M & Jamie G to look wide and bring into play Smithy & Danny who supported well and gave Charlie and Greg time to place the Astley back four under pressure time and time again. The Astley keeper had saved the score line from worsening more than once but couldn’t when Greg stepped up to take his hat trick on 31mins. 3-1. Smithy won a corner on 31mins and Charlie, who had chased everything got his just reward on 33mins. 4-1. The whistle blew dead on time.

Half Time 4-1
George & Dave were very proud of the fight the boys had shown, warned of areas that seemed to becoming a problem for them and congratulated the boys in every way sending them back out to warm up and hold the lead. Smithy was replaced by Will at the restart.

2nd Half
Astley, whose legs had seemed a little heavier at the end of the first half, came out fighting, pounding the Villa back four with the long ball. Great heading from Alex & Sam, great chasing back from Jamie A and stout tackling from Tom G meant that even though some chances went begging for Astley today, including hitting the post, they were limited. Again Villa took dug in and took hold of the game, Tom M in his now customary and successful “I’ll give it a crack from 18yards” role, struck home on 9mins, reasserting Villa’s grip and deflating the proud chests of Astley.5-1.
Danny came off at 10mins and Kyle came on switching Will to right wing in the process. Tom M took another on 14mins. 6-1.Charlie took the next on 15mins. 7-1. Tom M hit the cross bar 3 mins later and as the ball fell, Will rose up and headed home the 8th. 8-1. 18mins. The game was seemingly all but won but Astley would not give up (and that was great to see). The Villa rallied again and cold and tired legs fought well. Tom M decided he wanted a hat trick (how much Neil?)
and took one on 22mins. 9-1.
Jamie A came off for a rest on 27mins with Steven going on. Charlie decided he wasn’t going to be left out of the Greg & Tom club and banged home the final goal on 33mins. 10-1.
Greg & Sam both took knocks in the dying mins. Smithy came on after Greg couldn’t run it off and as he just got warmed up again a welcome whistle ended the game.

Full Time 10-1.
Villa were fantastic, a hard fought win. The score line failed to show how many times Astley came close to getting at least a couple and it didn’t show how Astley never really gave up and for that they should be congratulated. But, that’s football and Villa had taken their chances well, weathered set backs and storms and come back harder, faster and more determined to take the win.
3 points,3 hat tricks,3 very happy scorers,3 delirious managers,3 fingers left on my right hand and ONE fabulous team. Well done boys, it was a good ‘un.
PS the ref was a good ‘un too, thank you.