4th February 2006

 

Coppull United (0)     0   Euxton Villa    (0)    3

                                       Stewart 2, L.Conway

 

Villa's return to form continued with a scintillating team performance in which every member of the squad played their part in this impressive derby win.

 

Euxton attacked from the start and immediately pressurised the home defence. The first chance came after six minutes when following an interchange of passes between Damien Stewart and Adrian Briggs the ball was played into Sam Shone, he laid the ball back to Mick Bradshaw whose shot flew over the bar. John Winstanley was finding acre's of space down the right and his runs into the box caused the home side to reorganise their defence to try to contain him. Villa came close again after 11 minutes following one of John Winstanleys runs, his cross found Adrian Briggs whose shot was saved by a defender.

 

Villa now started to probe down the left wing and on 18 minutes a good run by Brad Dowling caused problems for the Coppull defence, but the danger was cleared. With 25 minutes gone Damien Stewart again caused problems down the left, he set up Brad Dowling who shot over the bar. Coppull were battling hard to contain Villa, but the majority of the play was still in the Coppull half, with the Villa back four very impressive in dealing with any attacks by the home side. Villa continued to create the better chances, on 35 minutes a superb pass from Adrian Briggs played in Damien Stewart, only for the Coppull keeper to save his low shot. Two minutes later Adrian Briggs repeated the move, this time Damien Stewart's shot went just past the foot of the far post. The half finished goal-less but the visitors came off very satisfied with their first half performance.

 

The visitors started the second half strongly and a minute after the restart excellent work by Mick Bradshaw in centre midfield put  Adrian Briggs through, his low shot was just passed the post. A minute later John Winstanley burst into the box only to shoot over the bar. Coppulls best chance came on 50 minutes when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, but the resulting kick was just wide. Three minutes later they came close again when they forced keeper Shaun Gibbs into producing a fine save. Villa went back onto the attack and on 56 minutes Adrian Briggs had the ball in the net only to be ruled offside. Two minutes later Mick Bradshaw set up Sam Shone but the effort was wide.

 

After an hours play manager Mark McHugh felt one of his inspired substitutions was required to break the deadlock, Anton Martin and Liam Conway joined the action. Within a minute Villa were ahead, Damien Stewart timed his run perfectly to avoid the offside trap and beat the Coppull keeper with a low shot into the bottom corner. Two minutes later Liam Conway set up Damien Stewart but his first time shot was saved by the keeper. The home side tried to respond and Mick Bradshaw had to produce a great tackle in the Villa box to prevent an attempt on goal. On 65 minutes Villa went two up when a great ball from Craig Chambers released Damien Stewart who finished with style into the bottom corner. The second goal deflated the home side and Villa continued to create chances, both Anton Martin and Damien Stewart again came close to adding a third goal.

 

On 80 minutes Coppull won a free kick on the edge of the box, but were denied by a great save from Shaun Gibbs. The final Villa goal came on 83 minutes when a ball out to the left allowed Anton Martin to beat the offside trap, he drove into the area before unselfishly setting up Liam Conway to fire home number three. In the final minutes Villa had chances to increase their lead further, and on 90 minutes Liam Conway worked his way into the box before hitting the post with a left foot shot. A very solid display with Ross Dickinson, Rhys Crombie, and James O'Loughlin outstanding.

 

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