This match was played like a cup tie with the home side putting pressure on Villa in all areas of the pitch. In the first half Blackrod had the advantage of a slope and the wind which they used to good effect, allied to this was their determination to play at a high tempo and not to let Villa settle on the ball.

On ten minutes the home side took the lead when a free kick was awarded outside the area, the ball was driven in low and hard and unfortunately for the visitors it was deflected into the bottom corner giving keeper Shaun Gibbs no chance.

Due to their style of play the home side were having much the better of the first half as Villa struggled to cope with the pace of the game, Blackrod forced a number of corners which the Villa defence managed to keep out, on 25 minutes Shaun Gibbs produced a fine one handed save to keep Euxton in the match. As the half progressed Villa started to catch the home side on the break, on 35 minutes Ryan Lilley put the ball into the net only for the effort to be disallowed for an infringement in the box, but given the first half onslaught Villa were happy to reach the break only one goal down.

The second half brought a change of fortune for the visitors as they started to control the game, on 46 minutes Ryan Lilley came close forcing a corner, Blackrod were unable to sustain the pace they had set in the first half, however they were still dangerous and on 50 minutes Shaun Gibbs had to save with his feet to prevent a second Blackrod goal.

The match was now being played mainly in the Blackrod half, Guy Clarkson came close on 55 minutes with a low drive which was saved at the foot of the near post, five minutes later a fierce drive from Adrian Briggs forced a great save from the Blackrod keeper, Villa continued to press and Guy Clarkson again came close after 65 minutes. At this point if Villa could score they looked like taking something from the game, but everything went wrong on 70 minutes when the Blackrod centre forward managed to twist and turn in the Villa box before hitting a low shot into the net. This goal had a twofold effect, deflating the Villa and lifting Blackrod.

From this point the result was never really in doubt, Villa kept trying and came close with two late efforts from Adrian Briggs and Craig Chambers, but with the home side content to hold onto what they had it was not going to be Villa's night. Hopefully lessons were learnt for the rest of the season.

Team    -    Gibbs, Chambers, O'Loughlin, Dickinson, Walker, ( Baker ) Conway, Pennington, ( Crombie ) Parkin, Clarkson, Bradshaw, Lilley, ( Briggs )