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Euxton Villa (0)
0 Fulwood Amateurs (1) 1
Villa suffered a major setback
in their pursuit of the league title as they fell to the
only goal of a well contested, hard fought game, which in
fairness they created enough chances to win.
Both sides started well and it
very soon became clear that this was not going to be a high
scoring game. The early initiative fell to the home side
when after six minutes play Damien Stewart produced a great
run down the left, leaving his fullback for dead, his
dangerous cross was narrowly missed by the incoming Anton
Martin. This seemed to rouse the visitors, and for the next
fifteen minutes they controlled the match, almost taking the
lead after eleven minutes when a shot from the edge of the
area forced keeper Terry Dalloway into a great save, diving
to his left.
This was Fulwood's best spell of
the game, but after twenty minutes Villa started to control
the play, more good work down the left from Damien Stewart
set up a chance for Guy Clarkson who saw his low shot saved
by the keeper. Euxton came even closer five minutes later
when Skipper Craig Chambers picked up the ball well outside
the box, his spectacular long range shot forcing the Fulwood
keeper to tip the ball over the bar. Villa thought they had
won a penalty on 28 minutes when Damien Stewart was brought
down with a tackle from behind. Initially the referee
awarded a penalty and then changed his mind after consulting
a linesman. Guy Clarkson's free kick was met by Ian Curwen,
but the effort was saved. Villa continued to press and on
the half hour good work by Anton Martin set up Damien
Stewart whose low shot was turned away for a corner. The
home side came close again minutes later when Anton Martin
shot past the foot of the post. A rare Fulwood breakaway
then turned the game, when a high ball into the villa box
saw a looping header drift into the top corner of the Villa
net.
The home side were not too
despondent at half time, as it was felt that if they
maintained their level of play, then the goals would come.
They started the second half in determined mood, looking to
carry on their first half performance. With three minutes
played Guy Clarkson was unlucky to see a good shot tipped
around the post. The home side continued to press and came
close again on 55 minutes when Craig Chambers just failed to
connect with a cross into the box. The pattern of play was
now changing as Fulwood were content to hold onto their one
goal advantage, Villa still had chances, and on 65 minutes a
good ball in from Damien Stewart was scrambled clear for a
corner, the ball in resulted in a great shot from Mick
Bradshaw again being kicked clear.
Fulwood were now closing the
game down well, and looking to catch Villa on the break,
they nearly succeeded after 70 minutes forcing Terry
Dalloway into a great one on one save. Villa were not
finished and came close again minutes later when Mick
Bradshaw saw his header skim the top of the bar. The
visitors were a well organised side who stuck to their game
plan, and Villa needed an early goal to open them up, which
unfortunately never came. As the game progressed Villa
looked less and less likely to score, it was not a bad
performance from the home side, just on the day they did not
get that bit of luck you need to turn a game. All is not
lost as their are still enough points to play for, on
another day they could play the same way and score four or
five.
Team - Dalloway, Chambers,
Dickinson, Crombie, O'Loughlin, Winstanley, ( L.Conway )
Curwen, Bradshaw, Stewart, Clarkson, ( Broadbent ) Martin.
Not used- Baker
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