No-one who was at this game would argue, I
think, that Eagley were the better side, and on the day
merited their victory. Nevertheless, when you break down the
stats into actual incidents, it could have been a happier
outcome for the travelling entourage. The first goal came
from a rash defensive blunder, the second was the result of
a wicked deflection, and the third was a cross that totally
foxed Johnston and ended up in the back of the net. Meantime
Villa missed a penalty for the second week running, and a
couple of other reasonable chances went begging.
Having secured a notable victory last week,
Mark McDonnell raised a few eyebrows by ringing the changes,
and sending out what can only be described as an unexpected
line-up. What followed was a first half during which Villa
looked disjointed and inept, and which saw the home side
dominate possession and territorial advantage, with the ball
coming straight back every time the visitors did manage to
get it upfield.
Inside five minutes Eagley hit the post with
a downward header on the end of a sweeping move. A couple of
minutes later the woodwork again came to the rescue, though
this time it was nearly an own goal when Alf Gutteridge
misjudged a clearance from a corner. Mid way through the
half, Villa’s vulnerability from set pieces was exposed yet
again, with Rob Haworth notching with a diving header on the
end of a floated free kick.
Gutteridge was trying to get something going
up front, and managed to create a couple of half chances for
himself, but he was pretty much ploughing a lone furrow, and
the home keeper was never troubled. Five minutes before the
break, McLoughlin used the acres of space he was allowed to
try a speculative shot, which cannoned in off the head of
the unfortunate Sam Bolton.
Villa hopes of a reverse in fortunes in the
second half received an early setback. Inside two minutes,
McLoughlin floated a deep cross towards the back post, which
caught Justin Johnston unawares and looped over his head
into the net.
Mark McDonnell sent on all his permitted subs
in an attempt to alter things, and indeed Villa did enjoy a
period of more promising play. Gutteridge, Jamie Pennington
and Damien Stewart all had decent efforts on goal, and
Stewart was yanked back when bearing down on goal. Then,
shortly after the hour mark, a spell of sustained Villa
pressure culminated in the award of a penalty when Bolton
fell over in the box. Although he missed one last week,
Bolton bravely, or perhaps rashly, stepped forward again.
But lacking either placement or power, the kick was safely
gathered by the grateful keeper.
That effectively put paid to any remote hopes
of an unlikely comeback, and although the Euxton side kept
going till the final whistle, Eagley ran out comfortable
winners.
Villa Line-up: Johnston, Farley, Crombie,
Bolton, Dowling (Stewart 53), Gutteridge, Heald, Loughlin
(Swift 62), Pennington, Clarkson, Briggs (Salisbury 62)
