28th January 2006

 

Euxton Villa   (0)  1    Turton   (0)  0

L.Conway

 

This was a hard fought game with the winning goal coming five minutes from time to give Villa the points, and allow them to return to winning ways. Villa started brightly and immediately put the visitors under pressure. On five minutes Liam Conway won a free kick on the corner of the box, the ball in forced the visitors into conceding a corner, which they managed to successfully defend. The home side forced a second corner three minutes later when Liam Conway drove a low cross into the box, but again Turton cleared the danger.

 

Villa continued to press and came close again on eleven minutes when a clearance out of the Turton box fell to Adrian Briggs who was close to the centre circle, seeing the Turton keeper off his line he attempted a long range lob, but the ball was just over the bar. The visitors had their first attempt on goal after 16 minutes when a poor Villa clearance gave them an opening, but the effort flew across the face of goal.The home side continued to press and on 18 minutes Anton Martin battled on the right to keep possession of the ball before hitting in a low cross, the clearance fell to Heath Broadbent but unfortunately his effort flew over the crossbar.

 

The midway period of the first half fell a bit flat as the two sides cancelled each other out, Villa frustrated at failing to find the net, and Turton content to keep possession and deny the home side any goal scoring opportunities. Things improved for Villa after 35 minutes when a great turn by Matthew Atherton on the left created a chance for Adrian Briggs, whose shot was tipped over the bar by the Turton keeper. One minute later Adrian Briggs was in again, this time his shot was just wide of the foot of the post. The visitors saw out the remaining minutes of the half , but rarely troubled the home defence.

 

At the start of the second half Turton had their best chance of the game, as within a minute they were through on the Villa goal and only a great saving tackle by Ross Dickinson prevented them from taking a surprise lead. Villa responded well, immediately going back on the attack. On 48 minutes Villa again came close when a ball was laid back to Heath Broadbent, but his shot was blocked on the line. The home side continued to press and once again good work by Matthew Atherton down the left wing created an opening as his dangerous cross into the penalty area was just missed by Adrian Briggs.

 

Time was running out with the visitors content to take an away point, and Villa unable to break them down. However the home sides luck changed after 85 minutes when a hopeful ball into the box was turned towards goal by Sam Shone, Adrian Briggs managed to get a touch, which wrong footed the keeper and allowed Liam Conway to force the ball home at the far post. This was no more than Villa deserved for their pressure, giving them a valuable three points. On the day Villa's man of the match was James O'Loughlin who started the game at left back before moving to centre midfield in the second half.

 

Team    -   Gibbs, C.Chambers, Dickinson, Crombie, O'Loughlin, L.Conway, Broadbent, ( Winstanley ) Bradshaw, Atherton, Briggs, Martin, ( Shone )

Not used  -  Baker