Worden Park played host to the away fixture, a light rain, heavy mud & a sloping pitch awaited the Villa.
Bamber had taken Villa by surprise at Southlands last year, it wasn‘t going to be so again.

1st Half
A good start by Bamber Bridge showed why they had scored so early on at the home game, fast running and meeting the ball over the top, and for the first 10mins this was making Villa look vulnerable through the middle. Villa had also started well and apart from corners to the Villa on 3,4 and 11mins there was little to report, both defences held well with the Bamber keeper was the busier of the two. Tom M and Jamie G were back to their old form, Kyle, Danny, Alex and Sam supported them well. Most of the play for the next 15mins was in the Bamber half although Bamber did still show the pace up front at times. The pressure resulted in a corner on 25mins, Jamie G took a good one and after a couple of missed chances Jamie A stood firm and slotted one in on 26mins. 0-1.
A deserved lead looked to run out the first half but the ref & Charlie had other ideas and Charlie exploited the extra time to score on 37mins. 0-2.

Half Time 0-2
George & Dave were happy with the effort, asked the boys to keep it up and reminded them for the last ten mins of the 1st half as “they were all over Bamber“.

2nd Half
Running down the slope for the second half the back four pushed up and held the play in the Bamber half. Bamber still threatened and won a corner after 2mins but the football played by the Villa was far superior, not the least the interchanges on the both wings, Sam & Kyle were released by the cover of Alex & Danny and many times this would start the moves, Tom M & Jamie G would take possession and make the strategy, Kyle & Sam would support as they found Smithy or Jamie A and they in turn would find Greg or Charlie, some fabulous passing football, a joy to watch …but …it goes for nothing if Villa couldn’t score, so they put that right and it was only a Bamber goal line clearance that kept the score, as was, on 5mins.2mins later Villa won a corner and Charlie scored on 7mins. 0-3. Bamber sought to even the score and when the ref gave the decision to award a Bamber free kick, the lad who had just fallen over took it well and it slipped into the corner.1-3 on 14mins.
Another corner for the Villa brought about another goal mouth scramble and it was Kyle’s sure , and unexpected foot that took the fourth.1-4 on 18mins.
Charlie & Greg now stayed a little deeper and held the ball well as Tom M , Jamie G, & Alex switched the play from side to side with great skill leaving Danny & Sam to pick up the pacey forwards. Smithy’s goal was as a result of some of this fantastic play.1-5 on 21mins.
Smithy & Kyle came off and Will & Steven took to the pitch on 24mins.
Another corner was the starting point for Greg’s goal in the 26th min. 1-6.
Then a lapse of concentration reminded the Villa that they had to play for the full 35 (or 38) mins when Bamber took an unexpected goal on 33mins.2-6. A great run by Sam, aided and abetted by Tom M, allowed Will to cross and find Jamie G in front of goal, he took it very well. 2-7 in the 36th min. Still the game continued and it was a great save by Ryan M to keep the score the same until the whistle blew on 39mins.

Full Time 2-7.
Villa had made up for the lapse at home, a comprehensive victory against a physical side who showed threats with their pace up front. A return to winning ways for the Villa and a definite improvement in the team spirit.