18th February 2006

 

Freckleton  (0)  0        Euxton Villa (1)  6

                                                           Lilley 2, Stewart 2, C.Chambers, Martin

 

Euxton's rich vein of form continued with this impressive win, with once again the whole team contributing to an outstanding second half display.

 

The game started slowly, and for the first ten minutes there was very little pattern to the play from either side, as Villa struggled to get their passing game together, and Freckleton worked extremely hard to break up the play, and not let the visitors settle. Gradually Villa started to impose themselves, and probe the home defence. With ten minutes gone Anton Martin found himself free on the left, he tried to play in Damien Stewart, but the ball was just too long. A minute later Craig Chambers made a great run down the right, eventually forcing a corner, the kick was turned behind for a second corner. From this, Ross Dickinson headed towards goal, and under pressure the home defence turned the ball onto their own crossbar.

 

On the right Ryan Lilley was starting to cause the Freckleton defence problems as they struggled to contain him, on 14 minutes following a great run he set up Damien Stewart, who forced the keeper to save his shot, Ryan Lilley following up also had a shot saved. A minute later Villa won a corner following another Ryan Lilley run, from the corner Rhys Crombie was unlucky to see his header kicked off the line, two minutes later Ryan Lilley left his fullback for dead with a great turn, before finding James O'Loughlin, whose low shot was well saved. Villa continued to press, and it was 23 minutes before the home side threatened the Villa goal, they won a free kick just outside the area, but the effort was well saved by Shaun Gibbs. Villa finally made the breakthrough with a classic goal after 35 minutes. The move began with a ball out to the left to Damien Stewart, he hit a dangerous first time ball high into the box, this was met by Anton Martin whose powerful headed could only be palmed out by the keeper into the path of Ryan Lilley, who gratefully drove the ball into the roof of the net.

 

Concerned that Villa's first half dominance had only yielded one goal, manager Mark McHugh's half time team talk was nothing less than a tactical master class, the full text being ( " we need to win this one lads " ) The result was phenomenal, three goals in the first three minutes of the second half, totally devastating the home side. From the restart Villa pressed, and great work in centre midfield by Mick Bradshaw, saw the ball played out to Ryan Lilley, who spotted Craig Chambers unmarked, the ball in allowed him to pick his spot before driving in the second goal. Villa were now flying, a minute later a Damien Stewart cross found Sam Shone who turned towards goal in the box, his ball found Ryan Lilley who turned the ball into the bottom corner. From the restart Villa pressed again, this time a quick pass out to the right allowed Ryan Lilley to hit an early ball into the box, which was finished by Anton Martin with a first time volley.

 

The match as a contest was now effectively over, but all credit to the home side who still tried to make a game of it, but with a four goal cushion Villa were able to pick off their opponents, and came close again with efforts from Ross Dickinson and Ryan Lilley, with an hour gone Vila scored their fifth, a great ball out from centre midfield by Sam Shone released Liam Conway, whose clever work on the right set up Damien Stewart who made no mistake. Freckleton responded with their best effort of the game, with a shot from outside the box, which forced Shaun Gibbs to tip the ball over. On 70 minutes John Winstanley produced a great run down the left before eventually shooting just wide.

 

With ten minutes remaining Villa got their final goal of the game, as the home side pressed, Villa hit them on the break, a ball was hit forward from centre midfield, and was headed towards his own goal by Freckleton defender, Damien Stewart was first to react, racing into the box before rounding the keeper and turning the ball into an empty net. Villa continued to threaten, and good work by Sam Shone released Liam Conway on the right, his early ball into the box found Damien Stewart, whose first time shot forced the keeper to tip the ball over the bar. A great Villa performance, and special mention for Mick Bradshaw who was outstanding in midfield, but he was tipped for man of the match by Ross Dickinson, who was a colossus at the back for Villa, no-one could remember him missing a single header all afternoon.

 

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