The Southlands pitch looked in quite good condition for today’s battle of the bottom two. The wind blew chill but the sunshine did it’s best to take off the edge.
Tom M sported the captains arm band.

1st Half
Villa started the game well, pushing Lancon back into a 5 man defence which they kept for most of the game. The game was tough & spirited and gave cause for more free kicks than anything else. Villa remained resolute and had the better of the play and the chances. Ryan standing in for Will had little to do and again it was Alex doing a great job of making it so. Tom M kept Tom G, Kyle & Danny well organised and a steadfast Kyle made sure most of the play was in front of him. The first real chance fell to Sam when he picked up a goal kick and ran towards goal, shooting a little early he found the keepers arms. Smithy had hassled well and was given a break on 21mins and Greg came on. It was not until the 27th minute that the first corner was won by Villa. Villa pushed on and it was a chance on 32mins when Sam shot across the keeper only to see it trickle across the face of the goal and if only Greg had studs a half an inch longer Villa would have had a goal to reward the run of play. Villa won another corner on 35mins.

Half Time 0-0
The management was very pleased and simply asked for the same in the second half, they reminded the Villa to play to the whistle whether they felt they had been unfairly penalised or not. The Villa had worked hard.

2nd Half
Lancon from the first minute were on the back foot and Jamie G & Greg had both gone close. Sam spread the play to both Liam & Jamie A into the wings and they delivered well running the ball up the park. Then Villa had a little lack of concentration for 5 mins when they seemed a little slow to the second ball & Lancon pushed them back.
Lancon’s danger man in the first half was on the right wing and whilst it was only his 3rd run it was to be a telling one and he scored a well taken goal on 8mins.0-1.
Ryan could not have done more. Tom M rallied the troops and the battle ensued.
Liam came off on 15mins and Smithy took the right wing. It took 18mins of play before a corner was won and Lancon took it well, it fell awkwardly but Kyle cleared it out to a waiting Smithy who ran it the length of the pitch, passed to Jamie who passed to Sam who passed to Greg and it was a squeal of frustration that saw the ball just pass the right post. Glorious football. Greg & Sam had a couple of chances along with a Tom M lob all to no avail. Villa upped the pressure and it was from one of Kyle’s long throws that saw the ball fall to Sam who lining up his shot heard Jamie A screaming for the ball, he passed, Jamie shot, it was justice for the team, when the ball hit the net on 28mins.1-1.
Now Villa really took the game to Lancon winning corner after corner and had the game been flowing as it should of they may well have got something, but they didn’t. The whistle blew on 37mins.

Full Time 1-1.
Tough and determined both teams worked very hard. Two games without a loss. Two games of grit & dedication. Two games to be proud of. Very well done boys.
 

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