A crisp winter’s morning awaited at Southlands. Early morning pitch inspection revealed a tough surface but with the sun beaming down it was quickly softening. A prudent decision was taken to delay the kick off for 30mins.

1st Half
A scrappy start by both teams saw Villa just taking the edge after 5mins when they won the first corner of the game. Another corner came on 9mins and a pitched battle was being fought through the middle of the park with neither team benefiting. Play was stifled and a kick & run game ensued. Villa played some patches of good football as did the Albion down their left but for the most part the game was ill tempered and poorly controlled. It was shortly after Jamie A lay in the Albion penalty area after a clash of heads following another Villa attack that they played some good passing football to create the opportunity and Smithy took his chance well on 25mins. 1-0.
The decision not to give a clear penalty when Sam was hacked down was a based upon him “getting his shot off”.
A number of chances went begging for both sides as the game ran out.

Half Time 1-0
George & Dave praised the boys, pointed out some discrepancies, encouraged them all & reminded them of the playing of football, kept the team the same and sent them back out.

2nd Half
A great start with Villa piling on the pressure from the off. Smithy again rose to the challenge and slotted home his & Villa’s second on 2mins.2-0. It was however a loose ball that gave the Albion the chance to get back in when they scored after on 20secs from the restart. 2-1.
Albion dealt a hammer blow 1min later when a well taken 25yd shot hit the back of the net.2-2.
Villa wobbled but steadied themselves and tried to play out of trouble as a headstrong Albion won almost every first ball. A free kick was given to Villa and Jamie G took and scored from it on 16mins. 3-2. The debate on how, what, when & where the kick should have taken from followed. Albion pressed on as they had been down already and come back and one minute later reminded the Villa by hitting the bar but Villa did the same in 19mins and 20mins Greg & smithy taking turns. Villa had started to panic and the mood was poor as bickering took over not with the Albion but within their own ranks. Tom G came on as Jamie A went off and the Albion continued to run through the middle forcing Ryan M to show a safe pair of hands on more than one occasion. Alex with another of his strong headed clearances nearly got Greg away in the 32min but it was Albion who were to be today’s Barnsley when they slotted home their third in the 36mins. The whistle blew straight after the kick off.

Full Time 3-3.
Villa , you did enough to win, but you didn’t …that’s football. Villa you must keep your discipline and those who serve up criticism, try and serve up encouragement instead & those who listen to the criticism ….well just don’t, you listen to your management, they will guide you. You must play as a team otherwise there is no point turning up.