The permutations were endless going into the last match of the group stage, with any two of the four teams able to qualify for the knock-out stage, and what followed , whilst never a classic, must have been exciting for the many neutrals present, but for those with an Euxton partiality, it was, well, just dire.

Numerous permutations perhaps, but for Villa the job was straightforward – win and you’re through. So after a shaky start where it seemed that they were never going to get to grips with the tiny pitch, they gradually took control and held a two goal lead which they kept till mid way through the second half. Then it was as if someone had said, ’let’s see what happens if we press this button marked self-destruct!’ And indeed that’s exactly what happened – two mistakes allowed the home side back into it, and as I have often had occasion to remark, once you have lost the momentum in any sport, it is very difficult to get it back.

As stated, Villa started uncertainly, finding the traffic jam of the cramped conditions hard to come to terms with, and the home side had most of the early territorial advantage, but with only a couple of long range efforts to show for it. Gradually the visitors settled, and Gavin Cooper brought a fantastic save from Tebay with a fiercely struck free-kick which was heading for the corner. Five minutes later, the keeper had his palms stung again, this time Craig Chambers nearly finding success with a thirty yard rasper. It wasn’t all one way, however, and down the other end Shaun Gibbs was also busy with a succession of fine saves both in the air and down at feet. 

Then, twenty four minutes in, Phil Woodman slipped a short corner to Gavin Cooper, who in turn picked out Matt Atherton with a perfect cross, and the latter didn’t disappoint with a well placed header giving Tebay no chance. Cooper again tested the keeper’s resolve six minutes later with yet another thirty yard thunderbolt, but once again the custodian was equal to it.

Right on half time however, Cooper’s persistence paid off. Chasing down a seemingly lost cause, he forced a mix up between keeper and right back, and in the ensuing confusion, the Euxton midfielder nipped in and rolled the ball into an unguarded net.

Done and dusted then, or at least it should have been. But a goalkeeping error allowed Lucas to pull one back, and thus encouraged, Stoneclough harried another mistake out of the defence, allowing Swailes to fire his side level. From then on, the home side had their tails up, and sensing that qualification, a distant possibility just minutes earlier was theirs for the taking, proceeded to take control. Villa on the other hand, having allowed their grip on the game to loosen, never looked like getting it back, and two more from Lucas put paid to any hopes of turning things back in their favour.

At half time both Villa and Ashton Town only had to maintain their concentration and see the job out to ease through to the next round, but in the end neither could manage it and Stoneclough and Prestwich progress at their expense, leaving the Euxton side languishing at the bottom of the group!

Villa Line-up: Shaun Gibbs, Craig Chambers (John Salisbury 79), Darren Davies, Lee Chambers, Sam Bolton (Ross Dickinson 79), Phil Woodman (Ian Kirkpatrick 79) David Heald. Gavin Cooper, Matt Atherton (Matt Conway 61), Chris Farrer, George Craddock (Rhenden Pillay 76).