Charnock Richard 2  Euxton Villa 1

Villa’s fate at Mossie Close in recent visits, coupled with their form over the last two league games, meant that trepidation was the emotion felt most strongly during the shortest of away journeys for the Villa faithful. Such fears were to prove unfounded however, as the lads gave manager Mark McDonnell a performance to be proud of, and only a very poor display of officiating, which nearly ruined the match as a spectacle, robbed them of at least the point their efforts deserved. When Mathew Atherton’s stunning volley flew in on ninety minutes, equalising Charnock’s second half penalty, we all thought fair enough, but a blatantly off-side goal five minutes into stoppage time acted like a kick in the proverbials, and sent even the mildest mannered supporters away seething.

Charnock were first into their stride, hitting the bar inside five minutes. Then it was Villa’s turn, with Phil Woodman and Dave Mason combining to put Sam Bolton through, but Swarbrick in goal was equal to it. Exchanges were fairly even for the remainder of the half, with Mason proving a handful for the home defence, but the only clear cut chance saw Justin Johnston claw the ball away from feet with a one handed spread-eagle.

Then, just before the interval, a coming together in midfield saw a bit of ‘handbags’ exchanged. The referee went into conference with both assistants, and together, they elected to book Jamie Pennington for Villa, who was only peripherally involved, and Williams for Charnock, who was not really involved at all, but who unfortunately had already been carded and so was sent packing. The two instigators of the melee escaped sanction altogether. During all this, Woodman found himself through one on one, but again Swarbrick did well.

In the second half, Villa took time to adjust to Charnock’s changed set up, and it was the home side who looked the more likely. Kevin Allen, who had been kept quiet in the first half, was seeing plenty of the ball, and was proving a handful during an outstanding second half performance.  Twelve minutes in, he got up close and personal, not for the first time, with Lee Chambers and went down inside the box. Some thought a soft penalty, but if it had been up the other end we would have expected it given. James Price’s trusty left foot was never going to miss the spot kick.

The game gathered pace as Villa went looking for the equaliser. Alf Gutteridge headed a corner onto the underside of the bar, and seconds later Mason went close from a Gutteridge cross. The Euxton side were now in ascendancy, making better use of their man advantage, particularly when using the full width of their opponents’ excellent new playing surface. In chasing the game however, gaps were appearing at the back, and Myers missed a good headed chance from a free kick, and less than a minute later the ball was blasted over from ten yards with the goal gaping. Ryan Lilley, Damien Stewart and Mat Atherton were sent on to freshen up the attack, and Lilley and Stewart carved out an excellent opening for Gutteridge, but he couldn’t get any purchase on the shot.  Then, in the ninetieth minute, a sustained spell of pressure earned Villa a series of corners, and from the last of these the ball broke to Atherton, who lashed home from twenty yards

Both sides went chasing the winner as the game inexplicably went on and on. Five minutes into stoppage time Charnock won a corner on their left. The inswinging kick was well defended, and when the lines were cleared, defenders, as you would want, followed the ball out, leaving three attackers trotting back behind them. Unfortunately, the liner was also running away from goal, so when the ball was lobbed back in and casually nodded in by Keenan, although the ref looked long and hard, in the absence of a flag, to the amazement of everyone, a goal was given!

 In a very entertaining game, both sides were the victim of a number of strange decisions, but unfortunately the one that mattered most went against the visitors.  However, if they play with the same commitment in the coming weeks, a successful run will surely follow. 

Villa line-U[p: Johnston, Pennington (Lilley 65), Davies, L.Chambers, Marquis (Stewart 60), Gutteridge, Bingham, Loughlin, Woodman (Atherton80) Bolton, Mason,

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