Town Lose Villa Thriller! - Shot Shy Town Through Away Another 3 Points.

If it wasn’t for bad luck then the Town u15’s wouldn’t get any luck at all and that’s a fact. After last weeks demolition of Barr Hill Lads Club their fans and managment could have been forgiven for thinking that they’d turned a corner. Things don’t work like that for this team though. With a late drop out, one striker on holiday and one off injured the managers plans were thrown into chaos.

They lined up with Henry in nets, Jordi, Jimmy, Sam and Lawto at the back. Oli M on the right, Deano on the left and G and Owain in the middle. Brandon and Oli F started up front with Tommy and Benno on the bench. As with every other game so far this season Town stared at a frenetic pace and completely dominated in terms of possession. For the first 20 minutes they were camped in the Villa half stretching them all over the place.

Alarm bells were ringing though in Erik and Martins heads as the all too familiar pattern started to unfold in front of them. Total control, the opposition pinned back, Town looking industrious and threatening. However, not a single shot was mustered. No one tested the keeper and the strikers looking to pass rather than shoot everytime they received the ball.

The inevitable happened after 20 minutes when Villa broke for the very first time and scored. Albeit a lucky deflection that rebounded off the post and was tapped in but a goal none the less. The Town subs screamed how lucky the Villa goal was but you make your own luck in this game and by having a crack at goal Villa put themselves in danger of scoring. In fact all three Villa goals were totally lucky. The next one was offside by 10 yards but the striker rode his luck and took the shot anyway. The Town defence had already given up the chase hoping that the hapless ref would blow but he didn’t.

The third and killer goal came by way of a deflection. Again a speculative shot bounced off a defender and looped over Henry’s outstretched arms and into the net. The Villa players couldn’t believe their luck and the Town boys couldn’t believe theirs!

Half time loomed and the Town were 3-0 down and not a single attempt at goal to their name.

The half time team talk was simple. The manager urged his players to be more positive in the last third. Test the keeper and believe that they could get back into this game. Oli M made way for Tommy with Lawto pushing into midfield and Benno replacing Deano.

From the start Town flew at Villa and penned them back again. Almost immediately Fordy forced a midfielder into a mistake near the half way line and fed the ball to Tommy who shot off with gusto to the by-line before cutting his pass back to the lingering Lawto who slotted home. The Town’s first effort rewarded with a more than deserved goal. Inspired, they took the game by the scruff of the neck and Jordi struck a couple of long range efforts. Sam strode forward and had a couple of strikes at goal as did the dynamic duo in midfield G and Owain. Villa were clearly rattled and when Wilmslow went 3 at the back pushing the impressive Jimmy into midfield Town seized total control as they pressed and probed and chances started to open up.

Training has been centred on players making the right decisions in a game. When to pass, when to hold it up, identify the options. No wonder the management nearly blew a gasket when twice Brandon, clean through with the goal at his mercy decided to pass instead of shoot!

Tommy too with time to spare and take a touch on the edge of the box chose to swing a boot and managed somhow to scuff the ball harmless ly to a greatfull defender who cleared his lines. Simple errors that ultimately cost the Town the points. Fordy was imperious all game. It was one of the best performances he’s ever played in a Town shirt which is praise indeed. The defence looked assured and composed and even when playing with 3 at the back they looked in control. G and Owain put their lives on the line with everything they did to ensure that Town kept possession. They used the ball well and controlled the game. Lawto was superb. He was like a little human grenade launcher lobbing quality balls into the box. Brandon beavered away but was too often too far from goal to make an impact and Tommy the same. Goals breed confidence and there is no doubt that once the forwards find a goal from somewhere the flood gates will open.

With 15 minutes to go and the Villa defence struggling to cope with the pounding they were being subjected to, Owain with his back to goal acrobatically bicycle kicked a well deserved goal Balotelli style! The pressure was mounting. Villa were creaking under the onslaught but that’s where Towns poor luck came into its own once again. Play was constantly broken up by late tackles, decisions going against them, they hit the post, goal mouth scrambles going the way of Villa, corner kicks being awarded to the keeper. You name it, it happened to Town today. As I said before if it wasn’t for bad luck….!

The final whistle went and once again the best team lost. The manager seems to say it every week. “You will never play that well again and lose”. But it’s happened four times already this season in league and cup. Somewhere amongst this band of extremely gifted young players there is a goal scoring hero waiting to emerge. Let’s hope he shows himself at home to Dean Sports in a couple of weeks.