19th November 2005

Wyre Villa 3  Euxton Villa 1

Euxton found themselves playing against ten men for the most of this game, but although the opposition in fact finished with only eight on the field, they still managed to severely embarrass the visitors, who produced what can only be described as their most inept performance of the season.

Mark McDonnell may have been unfortunate in having been denied the services, for various reasons, of eight or nine players, but the team as selected looked, on paper at least, more than capable. Regrettably, the match was not played on paper, and on the park the defence lacked any organisational shape and their performance was littered with individual mistakes that caused all three goals. Up front, Euxton’s pace should have been too much for the home defence, but in fact they must have been amazed at how easy a time they were given. Every fifty fifty ball went uncontested, balls were delivered too early from deep, or too late when players had strayed off-side, and a general lack of fight saw the Wyre back four grow in confidence as the game unfolded.

There was no early sign of what was to come. Ryan Lilley shot just over inside two minutes, and Andy Farley drew a fantastic save from Mark Lockyear low to his right.  At the other end, the first mix up at the back resulted in a let off as an unchallenged shot flashed wide. Then, with fifteen gone, Lilley was clean away, and no doubt the defender felt he had no choice but to haul him down, and indeed the Ref had no choice but to respond with red. 

Against the ten men, Euxton failed comprehensively to make their numerical advantage mean anything, and in fact played out the remainder of the half in half hearted fashion. Wyre had several near things, mostly from set plays, and the visitors’ one success saw the ball in the net, but Mark Swift was yards off-side when he converted.

The second half began with debutant John Winstanley beating the off-side and clean through one on one, but he hurried his shot and Wyre were off the hook.  This settled Euxton somewhat and for fifteen minutes they put together some fine flowing moves. Then, out of nothing, a defensive blunder from a throw in and Wyre were one up.  Tom Whittaker was sent on to add his pace to the fray, and immediately scores were level. A deep cross from Rob Marquis was nodded down by Ian Curwen, and Lilley converted.  Five minutes later the visitors should have been ahead when a poor kick-out landed at Lilley’s feet, but though his shot beat the advancing keeper, it also beat the far post.

Then in the last quarter of an hour, farce ensued. A vicious inswinging corner (can I draw your attention to last season’s report of this fixture!) was flagged by the liner as a goal, to little protest from Euxton it must be said. Then Wrye were reduced to nine after a curious double yellow for the same incident. Almost immediately Euxton responded by allowing them an unchallenged run on goal  which saw them incredibly stretch their lead, before the ref saw fit to walk yet another Wyre player after a tussle in the Euxton box.  A deflected shot by Loughlin and a point blank miss by Lilley was all that could be mustered against the eight, and a miserable afternoon’s business was complete.

The general consensus amongst the faithful was that Andy Farley and Paul Loughlin were exempt from criticism, and that John Winstanley made a very promising debut. Back and front however, well, let’s just say that at least there is an early opportunity to put things right.

Villa Line_up: Johnston, O’Loughlin (Briggs 73)ton, Winstanley, Farley, Loughlin, Swift (Whittaker 65), Marquis, Curwen, Lilley. (Not used L. Chambers)