22nd October 2005

 

Eagley    (0)  1         Euxton Villa     (1)  2

                               Briggs, Clarkson

 

Villa had to work extremely hard to overcome a well organised Eagley side in order to take maximum points from this tough fixture.

 

The home side started brightly playing neat controlled football and they certainly had the better of the early exchanges. Villa did have a chance after five minutes when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area. Sam Shone took the kick which unluckily just curled over the bar. The visitors were now starting to assert themselves and began to probe down the right. On 10 minutes a goal kick was flicked on by Adrian Briggs allowing John Winstanley to cut in from the right, but his shot was just wide. Two minutes later Rhys Crombie drove down the middle before laying the ball off to John Winstanley, this time his effort was turned away for a corner by the Eagley keeper. From the corner kick the ball fell to Guy Clarkson who hit an absolute pile-driver which the keeper somehow managed to keep out.

 

Villa were now starting to pile on the pressure and pinning the home side back, on 13 minutes a Sam Shone flick on, almost again put John Winstanley through but the ball overran. The same player was through again a minute later to force another corner, which unfortunately came to nothing. At this point in the game the home side were struggling to contain the Villa attacks, on 25 minutes Guy Clarkson found himself on the right, he was able to set up Heath Broadbent, who shot over the bar. A minute later Eagley had their best chance of the half when a probing ball caused problems for the Villa defence, but the danger was eventually cleared.

 

Villa were finally rewarded for their pressure when on 38 minutes Craig Chambers played an inch perfect ball into Adrian Briggs who once again showed his class with a deft turn which left his marker wrong footed, he then beat the keeper with a left foot shot into the bottom corner. Two minutes later Villa came close again when John Winstanley set up Sam Shone whose first time shot was saved, Guy Clarkson following up shot over the bar, he came even closer on 43 minutes following a one two with Sam Shone , this time his shot skimmed the top of the crossbar. Given the chances they had created Villa were good value for their half-time lead.

 

The second half was a much closer affair, Villa started as they had finished, and on 48 minutes Guy Clarkson drove down the left, he cut inside and forced the keeper into a save at the foot of his near post. A minute later Eagley were level when Euxton failed to clear a through ball and the Eagley winger nipped in to score from close range. Villa responded and Sam Shone hit a long range shot over the bar. The visitors regained the lead two minutes later, Guy Clarkson again caused problems down the left, he cut inside and beat the keeper with a right foot drive from just inside the area. Eagley were now battling to regain parity, and the Villa defence had to work hard to maintain their advantage.

 

There were still chances for Villa to make the game safe. On 75 minutes Mick Bradshaw came close with a low shot, and Anton Martin following up forced the keeper into a second save at the foot of his post. Mick Bradshaw came even closer on 88 minutes when he hit the crossbar with a shot from just outside the area. The home side were not finished and in injury time came close to equalising with a dangerous ball across the Villa box. Euxton held out for a good win, which they deserved given the number of goal-scoring chances they created throughout the match.

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