Good looking facilities belied the state of the pitch, it was heavy and poorly marked out. The sun shone and there was a slight breeze but a wonderful morning all round. Euxton needed to stamp their authority on that second place after last weeks defeat.

1st Half
A very slow start from Villa meant that Appley got their heads up from the off. It was 5mins in when, for the first time, they threatened the goal. A great cross from Jamie A and Smithy headed against the bar. It now became a very, very slow start, indeed at this point in the home fixture they were 4-0 at the same point. Appley battled well and looked the stronger of the two. It was however Villa that played the better football and slowly but surely this showed. A string of corners from Jamie G peppered the goal mouth but to no avail. Following a goal mouth scramble, where Tom G took a knock, Villa won a corner. It was Greg who stepped up to head home. 0-1.13mins.
Appley would not crumble today and took the game to Villa with some good pressure not least in the 16min when Ryan M was called upon to make a great save. Tom G came off and Alex went on at 17mins. The Villa needed to up their game as they were second to almost every ball. Appley looked the better of the two when the whistle blew.

Half Time 0-1
George & Dave were very unhappy, they asked the boys what was wrong as half of them didn’t look to be awake and the other half didn’t look as if they wanted to be there (da’ management’s words not mine lol) They praised the efforts of Kyle & Sam, kindly reminded the boys of how good they were and asked them to prove it in the second half.

2nd Half
The second half was different but not great. The Villa put Appley under pressure and it was the commitment of Kyle, yet again, that drove the opportunity for Tom M to cross and for Greg to take on 10mins. 0-2.
Then, as if to prove how good they are , and how simple this game is at times, Sam’s long throw allowed Greg to run the left wing, a great cross, low with pace, found a waiting Charlie who simply, but effectively tapped in for the 3rd on 11mins. 0-3. The Appley reminded the Villa all was not lost when the ball deceived Ryan M and Appley scored, thankfully it was off side, but it was reminder. Smithy came off & Will came on at 14mins. In the 19th minute Danny cleared the ball, Jamie G found Charlie and he in turn spread the play with another deft touch (that he doing so well at in recent games) this resulted in a clear hand ball in the area by Appley but Villa didn’t even get the opportunity of a corner. It was however another corner that yielded the fourth, Greg securing his hat trick on 27mins.0-4. Jamie A came off & Steven came on at 29mins and as the Appley keeper parried a 25yd rocket from Sam the ref blew for time to end a lack lustre game.

Full Time 0-4.
Villa weren’t on form for whatever reason. A lesson may be at hand here, it doesn’t matter what the table says, lower teams will come at you and try their best, remember Bamber Bridge?
Take the learning to the next game and play as well as you’ve shown and run out with only a win in your minds. A word for the ref, well done under intense pressure.