This was Pumas' debut in the Central Lancs League and they had to play away at one of the most respected clubs in the district. With several new players in the squad and new rules and other factors to cope with this was a potentially difficult fixture.
Pumas 13 man squad consisted of:- Conor (1), Caleb (4), Sam (2), Tyler (16), Ben (8), Callum (15), Lewis (9), Matthew (5), Robert (6), Eddie (3), Jack (17), Dion (9), Elliot (10).
The pitch had a pronounced slope and Pumas played uphill in the first half in calm and dry weather. The early exchanges were even with Villa showing some nice passing moves and good skills. After 4 mins Pumas attacked down the right and Dion crossed accurately for Eddie to miss making contact by inches with an open goal at his mercy. After 6 mins a good shot from Dion was well saved and the ball came out to Jack who quickly fired in a high shot well out of the keeper's reach for Pumas first goal at this level. 0 - 1. On 10 mins a clever throw in from Matthew caused panic in the Villa defence and in the mad scramble one of the Villa defenders was hurt.
Pumas were dominating possession and their forwards in particular were scrapping for every 50/50 ball. During this phase they were especially dominant down the left wing with Ben, Eddie and Matthew linking well. From one of these attacks after 14 mins the ball came loose to Tyler whose long range powerful shot was well out of the keeper's reach. 0 - 2. Caleb and Sam looked in control at the back and linked up well with Ben and Callum who were dominating midfield. Lewis made a well-timed tackle to break up a rare Villa attack and then fed a lovely through ball for Dion to run on to but the move broke down with some desperate defending from Villa.
After 17 mins Villa won a throw in on the right in Pumas half. The ball was beatifully crossed for a Villa forward to head powerfully goalwards only for Conor to be brought into action with a flying full length save only for the ball to drop at a forward's feet for a tap-in goal. 1 - 2.
This set-back stung the Pumas into action and a period of Pumas dominance followed. There was a sustained attack after 20 mins with Pumas forwards queuing up to score with Villa defenders trying to scramble the ball clear. This move broke down when a Pumas forward accidentally handled. Robert and Elliot came on for Tyler and Eddie and soon after another great cross from the right by Dion just failed to find Robert in front of a gaping net. The ball came out to Caleb who was poaching upfield and fired in one of his trademark long range shots which agonisingly crashed against the post and bounced to a defender. Then it was Ben's turn to try to get on the score sheet with another long range effort which went narrowly over the bar. A minute before half time came the best move of the match so far with Robert and Ben exchanging passes before feeding the ball to Matthew who made no mistake with a powerful long range shot. 1 - 3 Half time.
Playing downhill in the 2nd half Pumas immediately attacked down the left and Ben's strong run forced a corner which was cleared. Then Dion crossed from the right setting up a long shot from Ben which the keeper managed to fumble away. Pumas persistence won another corner taken by Robert which the defence could only partially scramble away to Elliot whose snap long shot after only 2 mins found the corner of the net. 1 - 4.
After 7 mins Pumas were clearly enjoying their downhill advantage and Villa were having to work very hard to keep in the game. Jack cut in from the left and fired in a cross/shot which flew across the face of the goal then after a scrappy bout inside the left side of the Villa penalty area the ball came to Elliot who prodded it home from short range with typical poacher's instinct. 1 - 5.
2 mins later Dion broke through the defensive wall and opened up a 5 yard gap with only the keeper to beat when the ref blew his whistle late judging him to have been offside. Very close thing. Pumas weren't to be denied for long though and Tyler showed great strength and skill in his own half before releasing a lovely pass for Dion to run on to and with the keeper coming out fast he shot quickly. The ball would have missed the right hand post but Elliot was backing up to pounce and turn the ball home to complete his hat-trick. 1 - 6. The Villa keeper was hurt as he came out and had to be substituted.
Villa were only attacking rarely but when they did they looked dangerous. Callum did good work to contain these breakaways but Sam and Caleb were called into action too. After 16 mins Dion made a fantastic run down the left wing beating several defenders as he bore down on the goal only to be foiled by a brilliant last ditch tackle which would have been worthy of Sam. A minute later Caleb had to be alert to break down a Villa attack. All credit to Villa for keeping trying when they must have been shell-shocked at the beating they were getting. The ball was worked out and came to Dion who was hungry to get on the scoresheet and he made no mistake with a great shot to give the replacement keeper no chance. 1 - 7
Villa continued to be under pressure and were forced to pass back to the keeper who tried to dribble the ball out only to lose it to Jack whose good shot was well blocked. On 27 mins Pumas were awarded a free on the left edge of the Villa penalty area and Caleb strode up to take it. Pumas supporters have seen Caleb score many great goals from similar positions but on this occasion the Villa keeper made a good save from a well struck shot. Villa were not finished and made a determined attack down the right which looked dangerous for a time until the Pumas defence gained control again. Then as the clock ticked down Jack made a good run down the left then passed to Eddie who flicked it inside to Elliot who turned it just inside the post for a beautifully worked final goal.
Full time: Euxton Villa 1 Ladybridge Pumas 8
This was a brilliant team performance with every player in every position making a positive contribution. Pumas have announced their arrival in the Central Lancs League with a BANG!!
Pumas 13 man squad consisted of:- Conor (1), Caleb (4), Sam (2), Tyler (16), Ben (8), Callum (15), Lewis (9), Matthew (5), Robert (6), Eddie (3), Jack (17), Dion (9), Elliot (10).
The pitch had a pronounced slope and Pumas played uphill in the first half in calm and dry weather. The early exchanges were even with Villa showing some nice passing moves and good skills. After 4 mins Pumas attacked down the right and Dion crossed accurately for Eddie to miss making contact by inches with an open goal at his mercy. After 6 mins a good shot from Dion was well saved and the ball came out to Jack who quickly fired in a high shot well out of the keeper's reach for Pumas first goal at this level. 0 - 1. On 10 mins a clever throw in from Matthew caused panic in the Villa defence and in the mad scramble one of the Villa defenders was hurt.
Pumas were dominating possession and their forwards in particular were scrapping for every 50/50 ball. During this phase they were especially dominant down the left wing with Ben, Eddie and Matthew linking well. From one of these attacks after 14 mins the ball came loose to Tyler whose long range powerful shot was well out of the keeper's reach. 0 - 2. Caleb and Sam looked in control at the back and linked up well with Ben and Callum who were dominating midfield. Lewis made a well-timed tackle to break up a rare Villa attack and then fed a lovely through ball for Dion to run on to but the move broke down with some desperate defending from Villa.
After 17 mins Villa won a throw in on the right in Pumas half. The ball was beatifully crossed for a Villa forward to head powerfully goalwards only for Conor to be brought into action with a flying full length save only for the ball to drop at a forward's feet for a tap-in goal. 1 - 2.
This set-back stung the Pumas into action and a period of Pumas dominance followed. There was a sustained attack after 20 mins with Pumas forwards queuing up to score with Villa defenders trying to scramble the ball clear. This move broke down when a Pumas forward accidentally handled. Robert and Elliot came on for Tyler and Eddie and soon after another great cross from the right by Dion just failed to find Robert in front of a gaping net. The ball came out to Caleb who was poaching upfield and fired in one of his trademark long range shots which agonisingly crashed against the post and bounced to a defender. Then it was Ben's turn to try to get on the score sheet with another long range effort which went narrowly over the bar. A minute before half time came the best move of the match so far with Robert and Ben exchanging passes before feeding the ball to Matthew who made no mistake with a powerful long range shot. 1 - 3 Half time.
Playing downhill in the 2nd half Pumas immediately attacked down the left and Ben's strong run forced a corner which was cleared. Then Dion crossed from the right setting up a long shot from Ben which the keeper managed to fumble away. Pumas persistence won another corner taken by Robert which the defence could only partially scramble away to Elliot whose snap long shot after only 2 mins found the corner of the net. 1 - 4.
After 7 mins Pumas were clearly enjoying their downhill advantage and Villa were having to work very hard to keep in the game. Jack cut in from the left and fired in a cross/shot which flew across the face of the goal then after a scrappy bout inside the left side of the Villa penalty area the ball came to Elliot who prodded it home from short range with typical poacher's instinct. 1 - 5.
2 mins later Dion broke through the defensive wall and opened up a 5 yard gap with only the keeper to beat when the ref blew his whistle late judging him to have been offside. Very close thing. Pumas weren't to be denied for long though and Tyler showed great strength and skill in his own half before releasing a lovely pass for Dion to run on to and with the keeper coming out fast he shot quickly. The ball would have missed the right hand post but Elliot was backing up to pounce and turn the ball home to complete his hat-trick. 1 - 6. The Villa keeper was hurt as he came out and had to be substituted.
Villa were only attacking rarely but when they did they looked dangerous. Callum did good work to contain these breakaways but Sam and Caleb were called into action too. After 16 mins Dion made a fantastic run down the left wing beating several defenders as he bore down on the goal only to be foiled by a brilliant last ditch tackle which would have been worthy of Sam. A minute later Caleb had to be alert to break down a Villa attack. All credit to Villa for keeping trying when they must have been shell-shocked at the beating they were getting. The ball was worked out and came to Dion who was hungry to get on the scoresheet and he made no mistake with a great shot to give the replacement keeper no chance. 1 - 7
Villa continued to be under pressure and were forced to pass back to the keeper who tried to dribble the ball out only to lose it to Jack whose good shot was well blocked. On 27 mins Pumas were awarded a free on the left edge of the Villa penalty area and Caleb strode up to take it. Pumas supporters have seen Caleb score many great goals from similar positions but on this occasion the Villa keeper made a good save from a well struck shot. Villa were not finished and made a determined attack down the right which looked dangerous for a time until the Pumas defence gained control again. Then as the clock ticked down Jack made a good run down the left then passed to Eddie who flicked it inside to Elliot who turned it just inside the post for a beautifully worked final goal.
Full time: Euxton Villa 1 Ladybridge Pumas 8
This was a brilliant team performance with every player in every position making a positive contribution. Pumas have announced their arrival in the Central Lancs League with a BANG!!
