|
Euxton Villa v Red
Rose (Cup Game)
2pm K.O. 24th September
2006
The morning’s storms
clouds drew back to reveal a glorious sunshine at the
Tulketh High School ground. The convoy had done well to
arrive together. Chairs were placed shortly followed by
bottoms in the afternoon sun. The grass was long & green and
had not seen a mower for sometime. Passing needed to be
strong.
After a brief warm up the
team lined up against, arguably, one the best sides in the
North West.
1st Half
Red Rose started the
brighter of the two teams cutting straight through to put
the Villa defence under instant pressure. This wasn’t to
last as the Villa fought back and after only 3mins Smithy
passed to Jamie G who took a shot that pushed just wide of
the left post. For the next 10mins the game was balanced &
hard fought. RR won their first corner on 9mins as did the
Villa on 11mins.The ball came wide and Max made a great run
down the left but with little determination to hold the ball
up front RR were allowed to take it to Will who made a great
save on 13mins. RR’s number 9, the danger man that would
change the face of the game ran onto a loose ball and
planted it past Will on 15mins. 1-0.
Despite a tough game it
was good natured and the first free kick was awarded to RR
after Jamie was judged to have brought down the defender
after 18mins, Jamie had consumed probably more than 3
Weetabix this morning as his battling, running effort &
determination was to be his trademark today and could have
inspired others.
Having said the above
Jamie G was taken down after a cute pass from Danny saw him
with an open midfield to run at (it was at this point that
Rob dropped the water after a poor pass from Dave, sorry
back to the game!). RR now looked composed on the ball and
scored their second on 22mins.2-0.
After only two minutes
they attacked again and forced a great save from Will, it
ran across the line, Rob punted it out for a corner. It
seemed inevitable that RR would score a third and they did
on 24mins from a header.3-0. Alex & Tom M had held the line
well but the pressure was increasing all the time and as
Kyle had to clear the ball to the sidelines yet again in
order to ease the pressure the whistle blew.
Half Time.
This was not a disgrace,
RR are a very good team and the Villa had matched them well
in all areas except the front. This is where the game was
being won & lost. The management asked for the effort to be
duplicated and asked the boys to look for the early goal.
Kyle & Danny came off, with Tom G & Liam going on as direct
replacements.
PS It was noticed at this
point that a grown man with a flag kept pinching water from
the boys bottles claiming it was too hot to run up & down.
2nd Half
Sadly, RR’s manager had
asked for the same and they delivered first after 1min. 4-0.
A blow for the Villa.
RR piled on the pressure
yet again and they were awarded a fifth after an own goal on
5mins. 5-0.
Shortly after Smithy came
off after running his legs off chasing the ball up front and
was replaced by Jamie M and Max came off to be replaced by
Sam.
The Villa’s legs had gone
now and despite the changes the game had drifted away with
RR scoring on 10mins.6-0
Then 11mins.7-0
AND THEN …….Fantastic
play from Jamie who won & passed the ball across to Jamie G
who looked to find Liam then a 1-2 with Sam and Liam placed
the ball at Jamie M’s new boots and he christened them well
on 14mins.Hurrah!.7-1.
Unlucky on 19mins when a
great chip sailed over Wills head to go wide RR replied
straight away on 20mins to dampen any thoughts of a
comeback.8-1.
The game ran out much the
same as it had started. Ryan M came off with less than a
minute to go and Max came on. The whistle blew.
Full Time
The management praised
the effort & reminded the team that RR were one of the best
and today was no disgrace. In order to keep our shape & take
the sting out of the other teams we must learn to hold the
ball in their half. We had seen brief glimpses of what Villa
could do only to be followed by the consistent passing &
battling of a well organised side. We matched them but not
for one whole hour.
Still as Man City would
say, we can concentrate on the league now.
Discuss this game in the Villa Room!! |
