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A representative from Lancashire
Constabulary has indicated that there is little evidence to
warrant an investigation into a possible betting coup behind
this game, but did concede that it was hard to find any
other explanation as to why our two most experienced players
would gift the opposition two early goals out of nothing.
Especially when said opposition were unable to otherwise
seriously trouble keeper Shaun Gibbs all night!
Suspicions were first aroused when a
combination of George Craddock and Sam Bolton passed up a
golden opportunity to take the lead inside a minute,
definitely looked harder to miss than to score. Villa’s
cause was not helped when midfield dynamo Stuart Bingham
limped off just ten minutes in, we all wish him a speedy
recovery from his pulled hamstring, though replacement Matt
Conway was an able deputy.
Then, seventeen minutes in, Darren Davies
pretended to effect a back pass with no danger imminent, but
actually rolled the ball into the path of Johnstone, lurking
more in hope than expectation, who accepted the invitation
to stroke the ball home unchallenged. Two minutes later, Lee
chambers, alone at the edge of his box, gathered the ball,
and with ample time and space to consider his options,
picked out the same Johnstone with a leisurely square ball
across the eighteen yard line. He almost fell over himself
with shock, but not before despatching the early Christmas
present!
The two goal cushion seemed to be enough
to satisfy the Villa defence, and although St Gerards were
understandably buoyant and playing with a swagger, the home
side actually looked as if they might want to take part as
well for a while. A Bolton header from a corner was all they
had to show for it however, and that lacked the necessary
direction.
Clearly the management team were not in
on any coup, as the dressing room walls could be seen
vibrating during the interval. Whatever gems were thus
imparted seemed to have the desired effect, as Villa set
about trying to redress the damage with the look of a
different side. Adam McAlister’s welcome return was having
a positive effect and the strong running of both Rhenden
Pillay and Chris Farrer was asking some tough questions of
the Lostock defence. McAlister and Farrer were now creating
lots of openings down the right, and with David Heald
working his socks off in support, chances began to open up.
Ten minutes in to the half, and McAlister
it was who set up Villa’s first reply ,
chasing down a seemingly lost cause in the corner, he
delivered a low drive into the six yard box, where Pillay
arrived at pace to smash high into the rigging. Now it was
virtually all Villa, and chances were coming aplenty, most
notably from play down Villa’s right flank, and Mark
McDonnell sent on fresh legs which added to the ascendancy.
Ian Kirkpatrick, short of match fitness,
came on looking more like his old self, and it was he who
grabbed the equaliser, leading the charge when the visiting
keeper couldn’t hold on to a Noel Clarkson free kick.
Now all Villa, as they pressed and
pressed for the winner they felt was there for them. Still
most of the damage coming from the right. Farrer fired one
towards the near post where Pillay just failed to connect,
practically uprooting the upright in his effort to get a
foot there. Kirkpatrick turned provider, picking Matt
Atherton out again from the right corner, but the keeper did
very well to block bravely at close range.
Try as they might, there was to be no
further joy for the home side, but given the two goal start
they gifted their opponents, a draw was a much more
satisfactory outcome than looked possible twenty minutes
into the match. An early opportunity to make amends now
awaits, with the visit of recent Goldline rivals and early
pace setters Stoneclough on Saturday.
Villa- Shaun Gibbs,Adam McAlister, Darren
Davies, Lee Chambers, Sam Bolton (Ian Kirkpatrick 73), David
Heald, Noel Clarkson Stuart Bingham (Matt Conway 10) Chris
Farrer, Rhenden Pillay, George Craddock (Matt Atherton 73)
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