A bitingly cold, near gale force wind, blowing across the pitch did little to encourage thoughtful, passing football, and no doubt contributed a lacklustre and stuttering first half, during which there was little to cheer the hardier souls who braved the elements to encourage their favourites, leaving the less committed to the comfort of the clubhouse, where they set about the task of furthering their relations with messers Foster and John Smith.  The second half, for the visitors at least, was a much more satisfying affair, in which Villa took control, scored a couple, and had another couple of very near things. Meanwhile, at the other end, Ross Baxter, who nearly failed to trap due to muscle spasm sustained in the warm-up, nursed his injury through a largely untroubled afternoon.

Villa were first out of the blocks, Adam McAlister, raced down the right whippet like, and looking up, drove a low ball into the feet of Dave Warburton, but he was unable to sort his feet out in time to be able to impart sufficient force to trouble the keeper. Then, with just twenty minutes gone, and already concerned about the possibility that Baxter may not be able to finish the half, Villa were further disadvantaged when the massively influential David Heald succumbed to a dead leg and had to be withdrawn, though in fact his replacement, Danial Hogg went on to have an excellent game, hassling and harrying and generally never giving the opposition defence a minute’s peace.

Ryan Lilley had a couple of opportunities to open the visitors’ account, first after good work from Elliot Dunn, and shortly after when Gavin Cooper put him in, but on both occasions his aim was found wanting.  Haslingden for their part had a long range effort from Moulton fly wide, and Pearson fired wildly over from eight yards on the end of an excellent cross from Lee. But in truth, nothing much was quite working for either side, and half time arrived without any sign of a proper football match breaking out.

Fortunately, the second half delivered much better fare, particularly from the point of view of the travelling faithful. Inside five minutes, in fact, Villa were able to grab a valuable lead. Gavin Cooper delivered a pin-point free kick which picked out Ross Dickinson, who, as he so often does, had found space at the back post. Bell did well to turn ‘Gadget’s’ header on to the bar, but the rebound fell kindly for the attacking side, with Sam Bolton just beating Hogg to deliver the coup de grâce. 

The Euxton side now effectively took control, with the Haslingden finding the pace and persistence of Lilley and Hogg, ably supported by the guile of Cooper and Dunn, difficult to cope with.  Matt Plano fired over the bar and Bell got down well to turn a Warburton free kick round the post. Then, shortly after the hour mark, Hogg’s doggedness finally bore fruit, when his speed over the ground found him away and clear, and he duly delivered with a well placed shot on the run that the keeper was never getting to.

The visitors went on to pretty much control the rest of the match. Another cleverly crafted move very nearly brought a contender for goal of the season. Hogg, this time raiding down the right, carried the ball at full tilt before looking up to pick out Ryan Lilley with a killer pass in behind the back line, but the latter’s first time volley crashed back off the upright with the keeper rooted.  Hogg himself had the opportunity to ice the cake in the closing stages when Cooper and Lilley worked their magic to put him in, but he took his eye off at the crucial moment, and only a fresh air shot resulted.  That, however should not detract from an excellent afternoon’s work from him, and indeed everyone in an orange shirt.

A special mention for referee ken Houghton. Not the first time we have had him recently, and he has to be commended for his ability to exert control and authority without flashing yellow cards willy-nilly, even in the presence of an assessor. 

Villa Line-Up; Ross Baxter, Adam McAlister, Darren Davies, Ross Dickinson, Sam Bolton, (Lee Chambers 75), Matt Plano, David Heald ( Danial Hogg 20), Elliot Dunn, Gavin Cooper, David Warburton (Matt Conway 65),Ryan Lilley.