Goldline Trophy Quarter final

Villa failed to hear the starter’s pistol and Atherton were round the first bend before the home side could get out of the blocks. When finally they did get going, they did their best to reel their opponents in, and for a while matched them stride for stride. However, just as a glimmer of opportunity opened up, Villa dropped the baton, allowing their opponents to stroll across the line and into the semi-final all too easily.

Disappointing as the result was, everyone’s thoughts were more concerned with the welfare of James O’Loughlin who sustained an horrific injury with just five or six minutes of the match gone. A protracted hold up resulted whilst an ambulance was summoned, and it was later confirmed that a double break to tib and fib will see him sidelined for a while. James has been outstanding in Villa’s early season campaign, and we wish him a speedy recovery.

To the match itself, and it would be an over simplification to say that Villa were simply no match for their higher league opponents, but in truth, for the first fifteen minutes they were like a rabbit caught in the headlights. With both regular first choice full backs missing, the defence still had a familiar enough look, but no-one seemed to have any idea what they were collectively supposed to be doing. Whilst they were trying to sort out who was meant to where, Daniel Smith took advantage of oceans of space, (I’ve seen better defending on ‘Crossbar Challenge’), and floated a looping shot which Ross Baxter watched sail over his right shoulder.

At this juncture, it was really all Atherton, and those on the sidelines feared a drubbing. Baxter had to produce a couple of fine saves, but just as it looked like Villa were beginning to establish a better shape, a mix up between Ross Baxter and Dickinson allowed Phil Howard to easily lob his side two in front.  

Atherton looked threatening every time they went forward, but Villa were not without a threat of their own, and Greg Johnstone, Ryan Lilley and debutant Ally were starting to gain some success in the final third, and fortunately for the sake of the sanity of the home support and the watchability of the match, managed to carve out a foothold just five minutes after LR’s second. Dave Warburton displayed exquisite control to bring the ball down, turn and thread to Lilley, who in turn picked out Ally. The newcomer thrilled the crowd with fine footwork that had the LR defence in a knot, culminating in a well-placed pass into the bottom corner.   

With belief restored, Villa went on to give as good as they got for the remainder of the half, and indeed for most of the second.  Just eleven minutes after the restart, LR were reduced to ten men following an elbow off the ball.  With the numerical advantage and with Villa having their best spell, redressing the balance looked a real possibility. Warburton almost uprooted the post with a ferocious strike from twenty yards from a chance he himself created, Johnstone shot millimetres wide having been set up by fine work from Lilley, and David Heald, though not one hundred percent fit, carried the ball from his own half in a mazy run, but his final shot went just the wrong side of the post.  

However, as is often the case, Villa were unable to make the extra man count, and when Howard waltzed through and trickled a tame shot over the line, shoulders, amongst the support at least, visibly slumped. 

The lads did keep going however, with Darren Davies venturing ever further forward and having some success down the right, and Ross Dickinson always threatening to sneak in on the blind side and get on the end of something.  But it was all to no avail, and Villa paid a heavy price for fifteen minutes of chaotic disorganisation at the start of the evening. 

So no ‘Reebok’ adventure for Villa to savour this season, but disappointing as that is, any regret can be put in proper perspective when compared to the unfortunate James O’Loughlin’s plight. Hurry back Jazza!

Villa Line-Up: Ross Baxter, James O’Loughlin (John Salisbury 6) Darren Davies, Ross Dickinson, Mark Swift (Matt Atherton 74), Matt Plano, David Heald, Ryan Lilley, David Warburton, Ally (Alex Gutteridge 60), Greg Johnstone.