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Euxton Villa (2) 3
Blackrod Town (2) 2
Martin
Dickinson
Lilley
This was a pulsating top of the
table clash between two well matched sides, with Villa just
edging it to take the three points and keep the title race
wide open.
The home side started the
brighter of the two teams, settling quickly and putting
Blackrod under early pressure. With two minutes gone Villa
forced a corner which the visitors defended, a minute later
Anton Martin beat the offside trap on the left before
delivering a dangerous cross which was cleared for a corner.
With five minutes gone Blackrod produced their first attack,
winning a free kick on the corner of the box. The resulting
kick forced Shaun Gibbs into a good save.On six minutes
Villa scored the early goal they were looking for, Sam Shone
won the ball in centre midfield, his inch perfect pass
played in Anton Martin who drove into the box before beating
the keeper with a low shot through his legs.
Both sides were trying to play
good football making for an exciting game, the best chances
were still falling to the home side, and on 12 minutes they
nearly increased their lead, when a ball into the box caused
a goalmouth scramble which ended with the keeper saving a
Ryan Lilley shot. Villa continued to probe as the visitors
came more and more into the game, with 28 minutes gone
Damien Stewart made a great run down the left wing, his ball
into the box was just missed by Ryan Lilley, but did find
Mick Bradshaw who shot just over the bar. The game was
turned on its head in the space of four minutes on the half
hour. The Villa Defence had been containing Blackrod well,
but they were caught out twice in two minutes, first a good
interchange of passes by the visitors set up their top
scorer who drilled the ball into the bottom corner. This
lifted the visitors who continued to press, a ball into the
Villa box was not headed clear, and Blackrod were first to
react taking the lead with a headed goal. All credit to the
Villa's battling spirit they immediately went back onto the
attack, forcing a corner, the ball in was not cleared by
Blackrod, and following a goalmouth melee, Ross Dickinson
forced the ball over the line.Blackrod were enjoying their
best spell of the game, but towards the end of the half
Villa again came close with a Ryan Lilley header, and a
Damien Stewart left foot shot.
From the start of the second
half Villa lifted their game and played with renewed
confidence, with five minutes gone Sam Shone turned in the
Blackrod box, and saw his low shot flash across the face of
goal.With just over an hour played Villa regained the lead
with a goal fit to win any game. A through ball set up Anton
Martin in the box, his shot was saved, Ryan Lilley following
up saw his first shot saved, but he reacted quicker than
anyone else turning the ball in with a spectacular overhead
kick. Villa now felt the game was there for the taking, and
they continued to press looking for a forth goal which would
make the game and the three points safe.
On 66 minutes Ryan Lilley
produced a great run into the box from the right, he was
able to set up Damien Stewart who was unlucky to see his
well hit shot saved by the Blackrod keeper.To be fair
Blackrod were still looking extremely dangerous and on 70
minutes they forced Shaun Gibbs to produce the save of the
day, when he was at full stretch to tip over a header
following a Blackrod corner kick. Villa made changes with
Liam Conway coming on to play on the right wing, and Heath
Broadbent to strengthen midfield. This allowed Villa to play
out the remaining time without too many problems, but they
had to remain vigilant right up until the end. For
any impartial observer this was a cracking game of football
played with pace, skill, and commitment and a credit to the
division.
Team - Gibbs, C.Chambers,
Dickinson, Crombie, Winstanley, Lilley, O'Loughlin,
Bradshaw, Stewart, Shone, ( Broadbent ) Martin, ( L.Conway)
Not used - Dowling
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