|
Euxton Villa (1) 5
Thornton Cleveleys (2) 3
Whittaker 2
Briggs 2
Lilley
Villa staged a remarkable
comeback in this pulsating game, coming from 3-1 down to
eventually take the points. The visitors came to Euxton
determined to make a game of it, and they certainly
contributed to a highly charged match. Villa started
brightly putting Thornton under early pressure. With three
minutes gone John Winstanley broke down the right and his
accurate cross caused problems for the visiting defence
before the ball was eventually cleared. On five minutes
Adrian Briggs had a great chance, but his shot flew just
over the bar.
With seven minutes gone Villa
thought they had taken the lead when Mick Bradshaw fired
home off the inside of the post, but the effort was ruled
offside. Thornton now started to come more into the game and
the Villa defence had to be alert, with man of the match
Rhys Crombie in outstanding form. The home side still had
the best chances, and came close again on 17 minutes when
John Winstanley headed over a Sam Shone cross. They took the
lead after 21 minutes when a great run from John Winstanley
allowed him to put through Tom Whittaker who beat the
offside trap to put Villa in front.
Thornton still caused problems
and James O'Loughlin had to react quickly to turn a
dangerous cross out for a corner. The visitors drew level
after 27 minutes, when following a cross into the box the
referee awarded a penalty for an alleged push. Villa went
back on the attack and John Winstanley came close following
good work on the right by Tom Whittaker. A minute later Sam
Shone won a free kick which fell to Tom Whittaker who shot
over the bar. The home side continued to press and Adrian
Briggs again came close with a low shot which flew across
the face of the goal. Then just on half-time Thornton were
awarded a free kick just outside the Villa box, the kick
took a deflectionand found the bottom corner of the net.
Villa started the second half
determined to quickly get back on level terms, but on 48
minutes things got even worse, when Thornton scored a third
goal, with Villa defenders claiming a hand ball. Following
the third goal manager Mark McHugh changed the formation,
going to three at the back to increase the attacking
options. The Villa pressure intensified and the deficit was
reduced on 55 minutes when Tom Whittaker chipped a ball into
the Thornton area, Sam Shone turned the ball to Adrian
Briggs whose low shot was drilled into the bottom corner.
All the play was now in the
visitors half and they were devastated when Villa scored a
further two goals in the space of a minute. On 65 minutes
Liam Conway drove down the right, his low cross was met by
Tom Whittaker who turned the ball into the net. From the
restart Villa attacked again and an early ball into the box
was met by Adrian Briggs, his shot found the net off the
inside of the post. The game had been totally turned around
and with Liam Conway's pace causing the visitors defence
problems down the right, further chances fell to Adrian
Briggs, Tom Whittaker, and Ryan Lilley.
The visitors pushed men forward
in search of an equaliser, and Villa reverted to a back four
to counter this. Thornton now risked being caught on the
break, and on 85 minutes a through ball from centre midfield
released Ryan Lilley who coolly beat the keeper with a low
shot to put the result beyond doubt. The visitors deserve
credit for a spirited display, but once again Euxton's team
spirit and determination to keep going saw them through.
Team - Gibbs, C.Chambers, (
Lilley ) Dickinson, Crombie, O'Loughlin, Winstanley, (
L.Conway ) Bradshaw, Broadbent, Whittaker, Shone, ( Baker )
Briggs
|
