13th August 2006

Euxton Villa 4 Dalton 2

Two fine goals from in-form Alf Gutteridge in the first half, matched by a brace from the unstoppable Tom Cahill in the second saw Villa secure the victory their all-round team performance merited. A couple of momentary lapses in concentration at the back however, served as a reminder as to just how costly even a momentary drop in focus can be.

Villa could have been ahead inside two minutes when a loose ball somehow landed at the feet of the unmarked Damien Stewart, but his instinctive stab came back off the upright. Instead it was the visitors who drew first blood half way through the half. A hopeful punt was misjudged and Gareth Jones found himself in the clear for a simple side foot slot.  Stung into action, Villa were soon back on terms, with one of the best team goals seen for many a day. Brad Dowling fed David Heald down the left flank, striding forward he sent Cahill away into the corner, from where he squared to Gutteridge to complete the move.   Two minutes later Cahill hit the top of the bar from distance, and almost immediately Gutteridge grabbed his second with a dipping shot from wide which completely deceived Kevin Atherton in the Dalton goal.

Dalton began the second half in determined mood, and Justin Johnston rose majestically to keep out a snap shot which he saw late.  The home side gave themselves breathing space with still half an hour on the clock. Sam Bolton floated a perfectly weighted lob for Cahill to run on to, and without breaking stride he volleyed the dropping ball past the advancing keeper. Five minutes later Cahill again found the net with a powerful run and shot, this time Jon Salisbury the provider.

This effectively killed off the opposition’s challenge, and Villa should have gone on to punish them further but failed to convert  handful of very potable chances in the final few minutes. Dalton grabbed an injury time consolation, Jones again capitalising on an uncharacteristic lack of concentration in defence.

A terrific team performance which sees Villa sustain their outstanding start to the new season.

Villa line-up; Johnston, Farley, L.Chambers (Pennington 69), Bolton, Dowling, Gutteridge, Heald (Briggs73), Loughlin, .Swift, Stewart (Salisbury 65),Cahill.