2pm Kick Off            12th November 2006

A change of fixture saw a home game. Southlands was grey & overcast as the entourage arrived. As the team talk finished the heavens opened. The Villa ran out for training knowing that they had to put in a better performance than last week. Tom M wore the captains armband and George (Newboots) wore the managers.......whatever managers wear!!

1st Half
A very bright start from Villa warmed the hearts of the crowd and in the first 5 mins it was all orange. Villa won their first corner after 4mins and whilst Brinscall didn’t look like conceding they did look shaky. Villa’s midfield two of Jamie G & Alex showed great strength and Jamie A & Sam took the Brinscall defence apart when given the chance to run at them. Greg & Smithy held the ball well in attack and it was this that gave the back 4 time to clear and pick their passes.
Brinscall won corners on 6 & 10 minutes but never really looked likely to score but did look more composed as the minutes ticked by.
Tom M held the line well and as Brinscall started to come back into the game more it was a  fired up Villa that matched their superior (on paper only) opponents. They matched them on every blade of grass they covered. The game was balanced and well fought. Villa won another corner on 23 minutes. On 26minutes Brinscall got a fortunate bounce of the ball and whilst it was a well taken goal it was not really a reflection on the game to date.0-1.
The whistle blew for half time ….not a foul throw.

Half Time. 0-1.
The “new” management were very pleased. The structure was being held and the tackles were flying in and all the players looked comfortable. The Villa were told , not for the first time this year, to get the ball out to the wings. No changes were made.

2nd Half
Crikey did the boys listen or what, Sam & Jamie A were getting a great service and both were making telling runs on the wings opening up the Brinscall back four. Danny & Liam stopped anything going down the Villa wings and Tom M & Tom G held firm to support Jamie G & Alex, in doing this they pushed forward again and a cross from Jamie A found Sam who just put it wide. After 4 minutes of this pressure it was none other than Greg who pounced on the forward ball and slammed it into the back of the net for a very well earned equaliser. 1-1. 5mins.
Smithy had fought, battled and hassled the Brinscall back four and was brought off for a rest on 6mins with Max coming on.
The battle raged on. After 13mins Jamie A came off clutching a sore chest and Kyle took to the pitch. The game was poised and could have gone either way especially when Will made a great save on 14mins to keep the score level. Danny came off on 16mins and Rob came on with fresh legs. Sadly, after a good Brinscall attack down their left, the ball was cleared to a waiting Blue midfielder who lobbed Will to take the lead.1-2. 21mins.
The Villa did not give up and when searching for the equaliser, this was great spirit being shown despite Brinscall going close again with a shot off the post on 24mins.
Tom G was involved in a crunching challenge and came off a little worse for wear with a head injury on 25mins, Danny came back on to replace him. The game was end to end but Villa couldn’t quite find their second. Brinscall dealt the killer blow when they lobbed Will for the second time.1-3.28mins.
Villa again kept their heads up but sadly ran out of time & creativity and the whistle blew.

Full Time. 1-3
To say we are proud of you lads would be a gross understatement, you played with speed, determination & spirit. You kept the structure and worked well for each other and most of all you listened to what you were told at half time. You made a very good outfit look decidedly ordinary, and their coaches knew it. Do this against the middle of the league teams and you will annihilate them. Great stuff.

PS The crowd must refrain from flirting with the wingers in future games
PPS A complete rule book will be made available to some of the crowd to explain certain things e.g. When can Will pick up the ball?
PPPS Them new boots were shiny, but they worked well!

Discuss this game in the Villa Room!!