The final round of matches in Group 2 arrived with three of the four teams still able to qualify. Villa were in the driving seat, having played two, won two, they kicked off knowing that a draw would do them, whilst an Eagley win would see the visitors through and leave Villa awaiting the outcome of the other game in the group.

Having started the season in fine style, Villa had every reason for optimism, but in fact it was Eagley who set about the tie with determination, and indeed went on to outplay their hosts throughout most of the match with the greater balance of possession and territorial advantage.   And yet it looked for a long time it looked that against the balance of play, Villa would carry the day, but a late strike saw The Eagles earn the draw that saw them scrape through at the expense of Ashton town, who finished on the same points but scored less goals.

For the first five minutes or so, Villa couldn’t get the ball, as the visitors applied themselves to the task with gusto, but it was the home side who carved out the first chance. Tom Whittaker picked up a pass just inside his own half, and went on a mazy run all the way to the bye line, but his eventual cut-back, was too acute and fell behind the supporting strikers. Greg Johnstone worked a shooting chance shortly after which was well blocked, and Whittaker’s instinctive shot from the rebound flew harmlessly over.

With just eleven minutes on the clock, Eagley found the success their opening superiority surely merited, when the big No10 controlled, turned, and picked his spot in the top corner. A fine goal which gave Ross Baxter in goal no chance. 

Villa were hardly stunned by the set-back, it had been on the cards, but they did up their game in response, and were level just five minutes later. Sam Bolton sent a measured pass for Ryan Lilley to run on to, and the striker responded with a clinical finish.

Back came the visitors, and Baxter had to rescue his colleague with a brilliant one-handed stop. Then, out of the blue, a challenge on Danial Hogg just inside the box saw the referee’s assistant raise the flag across his chest. Technically a correct decision, though in truth no-one in the Vila ranks had been claiming the penalty. Sam Bolton was not about to pass up the opportunity however, and fired his side in front with his usual aplomb.

Having demonstrated the better brand of passing football up to this point, Eagley probably felt aggrieved at going behind in such a manner, and a couple of ridiculous challenges ensued. A stronger referee would surely have produced a ‘red’ for at least one of them, but this ref seemed happy to let anything go, and at the same time allowing himself and his young linesmen to suffer a tirade of verbals without sanction.

The second half was a more even contest, though again it was the visitors who began the more determined and had their hosts on the back foot for most of the early exchanges. We on the line had already observed that the ref, having given the earlier penalty on his assistant’s say-so, would grab the first opportunity to even things up. And sure enough, shortly after the hour mark, the ball was played against Lilley’s hand in the box, and the whistle sounded almost before the incident. However, Ross Baxter ensured that it was to no avail with a fine save low to his right.

As the game entered its closing stages, lack of communication saw a needless corner conceded, and from the resultant set play, the ball fell kindly for the attacking side, though the finish was well executed, and Eagley had the draw that, although they did not know it at the time, would see them through to the knock-out stages.

You can’t play outstandingly well in every match, and one or two of the Villa lads looked to be suffering from one too many matches over recent days, but will no doubt rally to give a good account of themselves in the Quarter Final which is next up, as soon as Wednesday Evening (4th August) – 6.30 KO at The Villa.

Villa Line-up: Ross Baxter, James O’Loughlin, Darren Davies, Sam Bolton, Mark Swift, Matt Plano, David Heald (Danial Hogg),), Tom Whittaker (John Salisbury), David Warburton, Ryan Lilley, Greg Johnstone. (Liam Conway)